GeroNursePrep – AHCA/NCAL Gero Nurse Prep

Reminder of Upcoming Annual HCP Influenza Vaccination Data Reporting Deadline

The deadline for nursing homes to report health care personnel (HCP) influenza vaccination coverage in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) National Health Safety Network (NHSN) is fast approaching.

This reporting is required by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for SNF Quality Reporting Program (QRP) and the submission deadline is May 15, 2025. Failure to report complete data in NHSN by 11:59pm on May 15th for the SNF QRP will result in a 2% reduction in the nursing home’s annual Medicare reimbursement rates.

The reporting period for the 2024-2025 influenza season is from October 1, 2024, through March 31, 2025. Facilities are only required to submit one report that covers the entire reporting period by May 15, 2025

Facilities are strongly advised not to wait until the deadline to report. Submitters are recommended to take a screen shot of submission verification in the event of a notice of noncompliance. Training materials are available on the NHSN website.

If your facility is having difficulty accessing the NHSN Healthcare Personnel Safety (HPS) Component to submit this data, email NHSN@cdc.gov with “HCP Flu Summary” in the subject line and specify that you are a LTC facility.

Questions on CMS SNF QRP requirements can be sent to SNFQualityQuestions@cms.hhs.gov.

AHCA has several resources available to assist with NHSN reporting, including the NHSN Tip Sheet and

NHSN Help Desk Job Aid.

Questions regarding the above resources may be sent to regulatory@ahca.org.

National Dementia Workforce Study Surveys Underway

You can make a difference in how we understand the health care workforce who cares for people living with dementia across the United States.

The National Dementia Workforce Study, sponsored by the National Institute on Aging of the NIH, is conducting surveys of community clinicians, and staff and administrators in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and home care agencies.

The key purpose of this national study is to learn more about the workforce, including your needs and how to better support you. To do that, NDWS needs your help. Surveys are currently underway and will continue annually through 2028.

We encourage you to participate if you are invited. Help NDWS understand the challenges you face and ultimately contribute to research that will help health care organizations, clinicians, and workers improve retention, target training, and improve outcomes.

NDWS is led by investigators at the University of Michigan, the University of California, San Francisco, and other university and non-profit partners. The Alzheimer’s Association is also collaborating and welcomes your participation. Learn more at www.ndws.org/participant-center.

RNs + Gero Nurse Prep = Smarter Nurses and Better Outcomes

The American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living’s Gero Nurse Prep course significantly increases RNs’ gerontological nursing competency test scores. Registrants can save $200 on Gero Nurse Prep through May 15, 2025, with promo code GROWRNS (all caps).

Research conducted by AHCA/NCAL in 2023 found compelling reasons to consider the Gero Nurse Prep course and ANCC Board certification for RNs. Nursing facilities with at least one ANCC Board certified RN experienced:

Lower rehospitalization rates for short stay and long stay residents
Fewer deficiencies on average
Fewer Immediate Jeopardy (IJ) citations
More stars — twice as likely to be a CMS 5-Star facility (44% versus 19%)

Specifically designed for registered nurses working in long term care, this curriculum provides comprehensive online training that leads to board certification in gerontological nursing by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) for RNs.

Gero Nurse Prep makes a big difference even for those RNs who are not interested in pursuing ANCC Board certification. Nurses who complete Gero Nurse Prep show an average 24 percent increase between their pre- and post-course test scores. Quite simply, Gero Nurse Prep delivers smarter RNs who are better prepared to deliver competent geriatric nursing care in skilled nursing and assisted living settings. Both two-year RNs and BSNs can take the Gero Nurse Prep course and sit for the ANCC exam.

RNs have one year to complete Gero Nurse Prep and earn 30 quality nursing contact hours – enough to meet the criteria for taking the ANCC certification exam. Gero Nurse Prep grads who choose to sit for the ANCC gerontological nursing certification exam ($395 separate fee paid to ANCC) have a pass rate of 94% on their first try. RNs who pass the ANCC exam can then use the GERO-BC™ credential after their RN credential.

Watch this video or visit the website at geronurseprep.com to learn more. And don’t forget to use the GROWRNS promo code when registering by May 15, 2025, to save $200 off the regular $790 Gero Nurse Prep registration fee.

Don’t Miss HealthCap’s Free Restorative Nursing Webinar Series

Restorative nursing is essential for enhancing residents’ quality of life, promoting independence, and improving overall health outcomes. When staff is trained in restorative techniques, communities can better support residents in overcoming daily physical, communicative, and functional challenges, helping them lead fuller, more meaningful lives.

HealthCap® is offering a free six-week on-demand engaging webinar series specifically crafted to provide practical tools and proven strategies that strengthen your restorative care approach. A new module will be offered every Tuesday with each on-demand webinar designed to equip you with the knowledge and strategies needed to deliver quality restorative nursing care.

For more information and to register for each free module, click on the links below:

Importance of a Quality Restorative Nursing Program Opened March 25

Restorative Nursing – Dining Program Opened April 1

Restorative Nursing – Bowel and Bladder Opens April 8

Restorative Nursing – Bathing and Hygiene Opens April 15

Restorative Nursing – Range of Motion Opens April 22

Restorative Nursing – Mobility, Ambulation & Wrap Up Opens April 29

Attendees can earn between 0.5 to 1.25 ANCC or NAB credits depending on the module.

AHCA/NCAL has embraced HealthCap for 16 years as a premier provider of liability insurance that is solely dedicated to serving senior care communities. HealthCap clients have the fewest liability claims in the industry, and HealthCap® settles claims below the industry average.

Reminder: ICD-10-CM Coding Updates for April 1, 2025

In February, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) posted the updated ICD-10-CM code files to address revisions to the ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting and other typographical errors. These updates are effective April 1, 2025. There are no new ICD-10-CM codes effective April 1, 2025.

While there are no new codes, there is a significant update to the guidelines for coding COVID-19. The guidelines are a set of rules that have been developed to accompany and complement the official conventions and instructions provided within the ICD-10-CM itself. Adherence to these guidelines when assigning ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes is required under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

The following changes are noted in the guidelines for coding confirmed cases of COVID-19, effective April 1, 2025:

Code only a confirmed diagnosis of the COVID-19 (U07.1) as documented by the provider (physician or other qualified healthcare practitioner legally accountable for establishing the patient’s diagnosis). The current guidance that documentation of a positive test alone represents a confirmed diagnosis will no longer be in effect beginning April 1.
For asymptomatic residents who test positive for COVID-19, query the medical provider as to whether the resident has COVID-19. The guidance notes that false positives are possible, and it is the medical provider’s responsibility to confirm and document a diagnosis.

This will result in a significant change for which residents will have the code U07.1 added to their medical records beginning April 1, 2025. These changes, however, do not impact NHSN reporting at this time. We will continue to monitor for any changes to NHSN reporting in the future and will provide updates if and when appropriate.

Please send any questions to regulatory@ahca.org.

Today is Certified Nurses Day and Gero Nurse Prep is Celebrating with a Spring Sale!

Certified Nurses Day™ occurs every March 19 and is an annual day of recognition for and by health care leaders dedicated to nursing professionalism, excellence, recognition, and service. The American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living’s Gero Nurse Prep course significantly increases RNs’ gerontological nursing competency test scores. Registrants can save $200 on Gero Nurse Prep through May 15, 2025, with promo code GROWRNS (all caps).

Lower rehospitalization rates for short stay and long stay residents
Fewer deficiencies on average
Fewer Immediate Jeopardy (IJ) citations
More stars — twice as likely to be a CMS 5-Star facility (44% versus 19%)

March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month

Every March, the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD) and its partners collaborate to lead Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month (DDAM), an annual campaign highlighting how people with and without disabilities form strong communities together. Established in 1987 by President Ronald Reagan, Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month highlights the importance of fostering a society where people with disabilities are empowered to contribute to their communities. NACDD’s 2025 theme, We’re Here All Year, focuses on how people and programs are always contributing, not just during this observance.

Simplifying Oxygen Signage Requirements

Managing life safety compliance is a complex, multi-faceted task. It requires knowledge in multiple codes, utilization of the proper code editions, and determination of which requirements are applicable to your building. This blog post will break down the requirements around oxygen signage.

The Healthcare Facilities Code® (NFPA 99) contains most of the requirements related to oxygen systems, storage and signage. CMS has adopted the 2012 edition of NFPA 99. Oxygen signage requirements fall into two categories: signage for oxygen storage and signage when oxygen is in use.

When oxygen cylinders or containers are stored within an enclosure, a precautionary sign is required on the door or gate that is readable from a distance of five feet away. The signage must include the following wording:

This requirement is intended to apply to rooms and enclosures where multiple cylinders are being stored. It is not necessary to place signage everywhere an oxygen cylinder is located in a building. For example, cylinders available for emergency use on carts, at nurse stations, and staged in small quantities are not subject to oxygen storage signage requirements.

The signage requirements that apply when oxygen is being utilized in the building depend on the facility’s smoking policy. A facility that prohibits smoking is only required to provide precautionary signage at the building’s major entry points. However, a facility that allows smoking must provide precautionary signage wherever supplemental oxygen is in use, including the aisles and walkways leading to such areas. In all cases, the signage must be readable from a distance of five feet away. The annex section of NFPA 99 suggests signage be no smaller than 8 X 11 inches and include the following wording and symbol:

Finally, if liquid oxygen is used in the building and transfilling occurs – where liquid oxygen is transferred from a base reservoir container to portable liquid oxygen containers – signage must be posted at the transfilling location indicating that transfilling is occurring and smoking is not permitted in the immediate area.

The detailed requirements for oxygen signage can be found in Chapter 11 (Gas Equipment) of NFPA 99. NFPA provides a free viewer where you can access codes and standards on their website. Hardcopy and user-friendly on-line subscriptions are also available for a fee at www.nfpa.org.

AHCA is always available to support members with life safety compliance questions. Inquiries can be emailed to emergencyprep@ahca.org.

Now Available: ICD-10-CM Code Update Files

The Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) posted the updated ICD-10-CM code files to address revisions to the ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting and other typographical errors. These updates are effective April 1, 2025. The CDC has announced there are no new ICD-10-CM codes effective April 1, 2025.

While there are no new ICD-10-CM codes, there is a significant update to the guidelines for coding COVID-19. The guidelines are a set of rules that have been developed to accompany and complement the official conventions and instructions provided within the ICD-10-CM itself. Adherence to these guidelines when assigning ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes is required under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

The following changes are noted in the guidelines for coding confirmed cases of COVID-19, effective April 1, 2025:

Code only a confirmed diagnosis of the COVID-19 (U07.1) as documented by the provider (physician or other qualified health care practitioner legally accountable for establishing the patient’s diagnosis). The current guidance that documentation of a positive test is a confirmed diagnosis will no longer be in effect beginning April 1.
For asymptomatic residents who test positive for COVID-19, query the medical provider as to whether or not the resident has COVID-19. The guidance notes that false positives are possible, and it is the medical provider’s responsibility to confirm and document a diagnosis.

This will result in a significant change in which residents will have the code U07.1 added to their medical records beginning April 1, 2025. These changes, however, do not impact NHSN reporting at this time. We will continue to monitor for any changes to NHSN reporting in the future and will provide updates if and when appropriate. Please send any questions to regulatory@ahca.org.

Now Available: 2025 National Skilled Nursing Care Week® Planning Guide, Resources, and Products

The American Health Care Association (AHCA) is excited to announce the launch of the 2025 National Skilled Nursing Care Week® (NSNCW) Planning Guide, promotional resources, logos/graphics, and products! These materials, available at NSNCW.org, are designed to assist in planning, promoting, and celebrating NSNCW and will provide you with all you need to make this week memorable for your residents, staff, and volunteers.

Begin your NSNCW 2025 preparations today and help us create a week filled with unforgettable moments! We look forward to celebrating with everyone and spreading joy throughout your communities May 11 through May 17, 2025.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE
Here are some ideas on how you can start planning your NSNCW celebrations now.

Use the Planning Guide to plan your activities for the week. Or use them to help come up with your own unique celebrations!
Begin planning how you will promote NSNCW activities with those outside your building. Use materials in the promotional toolkit to reach out to media, local and national elected officials, and your surrounding community to spread the word.
Use the NSNCW graphics and logos to promote NSNCW in your newsletters and other materials.
Visit NSNCW.org for a wide selection of Tapestry of Life themed gifts and decorations to help you celebrate the week. Be sure to order early!

Don’t forget to share! Be sure to tell us how your staff, volunteers, residents, and families are celebrating. Share your inspiring stories, photos, videos, and other content with AHCA/NCAL at storiesofcare@ahca.org. Remember to tag @NationalSkilledNursingCareWeek on Facebook and in any NSNCW-related posts and use #NSNCW.

ABOUT THE THEME
Tapestry of Life highlights the meaningful stories that make up each person’s journey in skilled nursing care. From residents and families to caregivers and staff, everyone adds a unique thread that is woven into this vibrant tapestry. This theme celebrates the connections, resilience and strength that unite us all. Learn more about NSNCW.