Long-Term Care Hospital (LTCH) Quality Reporting Program (QRP) Training

Long-Term Care Hospital (LTCH) Quality Reporting Program (QRP) Training

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has many sources of information about LTCH QRP for hospitals and other stakeholders including:

  • Training Materials and In-person Training
  • Training Question and Answers (Q&As)
  • Hospital/Quality Initiative Open Door Forum (ODF) Presentations
  • Special Open-Door Forum (SODF) Presentations
  • CMS Quality Partner/Vendor Workgroup Presentations

This page is organized to be a library of training materials available to LTCHs. Trainings added to this page in the most recent six months will display as *NEW*.

If you have technical questions or feedback regarding the trainings, please email the PAC Training mailbox. Content-related questions should be submitted to the LTCH QRP Help Desk.


Introduction to the LTCH QRP Web-Based Training

CMS is offering a web-based training course for those who are new to the Long-Term Care Hospital (LTCH) Quality Reporting Program (QRP). The Introduction to the LTCH QRP course is designed to provide a general overview of the program as well as a variety of links and resources for additional information. Specific topics include:

  • Lesson 1: What is the LTCH QRP?
  • Lesson 2: The LTCH Continuity Assessment Record & Evaluation (CARE) Data Set (LCDS)
  • Lesson 3: LCDS Submission
  • Lesson 4: LTCH QRP Resources

From Data Elements to Quality Measures – Cross-Setting QRP Web-Based Training.

CMS is offering a web-based training course that provides a high-level overview of how data elements within CMS patient/resident assessment instruments are used to construct quality measures (QMs) across post-acute care (PAC) settings. The PAC settings included are those covered under the CMS QRPs for Home Health Agencies (HHAs), Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities (IRFs), LTCHs and Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs). Information covered in this 60-minute course will include a short review of the QRPs’ cross-setting QMs, how data elements feed into these cross-setting QMs, how QMs are calculated and appear on QM reports and how to access and use this data for quality improvement.

Achieving a Full APU Webinar Training

A video of the LTCH QRP: Achieving a Full Annual Payment Update (APU) webinar that took place on Thursday, May 27, 2021, is available to view on YouTube at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sm_GXYzlLzw. The training materials are here:

*NEW* RESOURCE AVAILABLE: Social Determinants of Health Items Explainer Video

CMS is offering an animated explainer video, Social Determinants of Health Items: Determining When a Proxy Response is Allowed for LTCH Providers. This video was developed to assist providers in accurately determining when the use of a proxy response is allowed for Social Determinants of Health items: A1005. Ethnicity, A1010. Race, A1110. Language, A1250. Transportation, B1300. Health Literacy, and D0700. Social Isolation. 

Section A Training Materials

Transfer of Health Items Explainer Video

CMS is releasing a short, animated explainer video to assist providers in coding A2121. Provision of Current Reconciled Medication List to Subsequent Provider at Discharge and A2123. Provision of Current Reconciled Medication List to Patient at Discharge.

Section C Training Materials

BIMS Video Tutorial

CMS is offering a video tutorial to assist providers with guidance application and interview strategies for the cognitive assessment known as the BIMS found in the LCDS 5.0. This video tutorial is approximately 20 minutes in length and is designed to provide targeted guidance for accurate coding using live-action patient scenarios. 

*NEW* RESOURCE AVAILABLE: BIMS and BIMS Summary Score Explainer Video

CMS is offering an animated explainer video, BIMS and BIMS Summary Score: Stopping and Coding an Incomplete Interview for LTCH Providers. This video was developed to assist providers in accurately determining when the BIMS should be stopped, and how to code the remaining items in this situation. 

BIMS Interview Cue Card

CMS is offering a set of cue cards to assist providers in conducting the BIMS, as referenced in the LCDS 5.0 coding guidance. This resource is intended to be utilized as a supplemental patient communication tool that provides a visual reference for the coding of response options. More detailed instructions regarding the use of cue cards and the administration of the BIMS in writing can be found in the LCDS 5.0 Manual.

Section D Training Materials

PHQ-2 to 9 Cue Card

CMS is offering a cue card to assist providers in coding the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2 to 9) as referenced in the coding guidance for D0150. This resource is intended to be utilized during the Patient Mood Interview as a supplemental communication tool that provides a visual reference to assist patient selection of symptom frequency. The cue card is offered in two sizes which can be viewed or printed here:

Section GG Training Materials

Section GG 3-Course Training Series

This web-based training series is designed to be used on demand anywhere you can access a browser and includes interactive exercises to test your knowledge related to the assessment and coding of Section GG items. This training series consists of three courses:

Video Tutorials Available to Assist with Coding Specific Section GG Items

These videos, ranging from 4 to 12 minutes, are designed to provide targeted guidance using simulated patient scenarios. To access the videos, click on the links below.

Section J Training Materials

Health Conditions: Coding the Standardized Patient Assessment Data Elements Related to Falls

This 45-minute web-based training provides an overview of the assessment and coding of the standardized patient assessment data elements in Section J: Health Conditions and is designed to include interactive exercises to test your knowledge. To access the videos, click the links below.

Pain Interview Cue Cards

CMS is offering a set of cue cards to assist providers in conducting the Pain Interview, as referenced in the LCDS 5.0 coding guidance. This resource is intended to be utilized as a supplemental patient communication tool that provides a visual reference for the coding of response options. More detailed instructions regarding the use of cue cards can be found in the LCDS 5.0 Manual.

Section M Training Materials

Assessment and Coding of Pressure Ulcers/Injuries

This 90-minute web-based training provides an overview of the assessment and coding of the standardized patient assessment data elements in Section M: Skin Conditions and is designed to include interactive exercises to test your knowledge. To access the videos, click the links below.

Section N Training Materials

Medications – Drug Regimen Review

This 45-minute web-based training provides an overview of the assessment and coding of the Drug Regimen Review standardized patient assessment data elements to Section N and is designed to be used on demand anywhere you can access a browser. To access the videos, click the links below.

Job Aids

CMS is offering companion job aids to assist providers in the assessment and coding of assessment items. The job aids provide clinically relevant information to assist providers in understanding specific guidelines and clinical considerations that should be applied to coding these items. The job aids are provided in multiple file types designed for printing, viewing, or sharing electronically. An explanation of the file types is provided in the ZIP file.

GG0130A. Eating, GG0130B. Oral Hygiene, GG0130C. Toileting Hygiene.

Section N Training Materials

*NEW* RESOURCE AVAILABLE: Understanding Coding for N0415 Explainer Video

CMS is offering a 4-minute, animated explainer video, Understanding Coding for N0415. High-Risk Drug Classes: Use and Indication for LTCH Providers. This video was developed to assist providers in accurately determining whether a patient is taking any prescribed medications in the specified drug classes and whether the patient-specific indication was noted for all medications in the drug class. 

Pocket Guides / Badge Buddies

CMS is offering Pocket Guides to assist providers in the assessment and coding of assessment items. The pocket guides provide a quick reference for important terms and definitions that promote coding accuracy. These pocket guides are approximately 2 x 3.5 inches in size and are designed to be worn behind a provider identification badge.

Quick Assessment Reference Pocket Guides / Badge Buddies for Coding

LTCH QRP Tip Sheets

The purpose of the tip sheets is to help providers understand the CMS public reporting strategy for the LTCH QRP to account for CMS quality data submissions that were optional and excepted from public reporting due to the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE). The tip sheets also outline the impact on the CMS’ Care Compare website refreshes.

Updates

January 19, 2024

NOW AVAILABLE: CMS Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Document and Methodology Report for the Post-Acute Care Health Equity Confidential Feedback Reports 

In October 2023, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released two Health Equity Confidential Feedback Reports to post-acute care (PAC) providers: the Discharge to Community (DTC) Health Equity Confidential Feedback Report and the Medicare Spending Per Beneficiary (MSPB) Health Equity Confidential Feedback Report.

To answer frequently asked questions and to provide methodological information about these reports, CMS released the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Document and the Methodology Report. The materials can be access through these links: 

 

December 15, 2023

NOW AVAILABLE: CMS Health Equity Confidential Feedback Reports Live Q&A Materials

On November 16, 2023, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) hosted a live Q&A session about the CMS Health Equity Confidential Feedback Reports for post-acute care (PAC) providers in the Home Health (HH), Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility (IRF), Long-Term Care Hospital (LTCH), and Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) settings, which were released in October 2023. The PAC Health Equity Confidential Feedback Reports stratified the Discharge to Community and Medicare Spending Per Beneficiary measures by dual-enrollment status and race/ethnicity. 

The live Q&A session gave participants an opportunity to ask CMS subject matter experts about the report’s methodologies and interpretations can be found in these links: 

If you would like to submit feedback to CMS on the PAC Health Equity Confidential Feedback Reports, please submit it to your provider-specific helpdesk. Please include “Health Equity Feedback” in the subject line of your email.

 

October 26, 2023

REGISTRATION OPEN: Register for CMS’ 2023 CMS Health Equity Confidential Feedback Reports Live Q&A.

On November 16, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. ET, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will host a live Q&A session regarding the Health Equity Confidential Feedback Reports released on October 16, 2023. The Q&A session will give participants an opportunity to learn about answers to commonly asked questions regarding the report’s methodologies and interpretations from CMS subject matter experts.

Register for the live Q&A session here https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_CgvglG96SLu7BmfXi60j_Q

Already have questions? Please send questions to CMSHealthEquityCFRSession@ketchum.com by November 2, 2023, for potential inclusion in the Q&A session. Please note that CMS may not be able to address every question and some questions will not be asked verbatim.

More Information

For more information about the PAC Health Equity Confidential Feedback Reports, please watch CMS’ overview webinar recording, and view the recently published fact sheet. The webinar recording can be found here. The webinar’s slides, a transcript of the webinar, and the fact sheet are all available as downloadable PDFs in the Downloads section near the bottom of this page.

CMS asks that all providers who wish to submit a question for the upcoming webinar review these materials before submitting.

October 16, 2023

NEW RESOURCES AVAILABLE: Educational webinar recording and fact sheet providing an overview of the Health Equity Confidential Feedback Reports

CMS has released an educational webinar recording and fact sheet providing an overview of the Health Equity Confidential Feedback Reports. The webinar slides, webinar transcript, and fact sheet are available in the Downloads section below. To access the webinar recording video, click on the following link: Online webinar recording.

LTCH Quality Reporting Program Archives

Page Last Modified:
01/19/2024 03:24 PM