July 2008
Campaign to restore the Medicare therapy caps exceptions process, comment on the proposed five-star rating system for nursing homes, get the latest on CMS guidance on nutrition and sanitary conditions, and the proposed recalibration of Medicare payment rates, and check an FDA notice on anti-psychotics.

June 2008
Read about Advancing Excellence success stories, the NPI, TV converter boxes, the hospice final rule from CMS, and several items from the FDA's Medwatch.

May 2008
Let your voice be heard on the 2009 Medicare payment update, check out new legislation on workforce solutions for long-term care, and get the most recent Food and Drug Administration information on product recalls and other safety notices.

April 2008
See the latest on the economic stimulus tax rebate for your residents, our Quality First webinar on pressure ulcers, and warnings about Icy Hot Heat Therapy Products, Tamiflu, heparin sodium injection, and allergic reactions to denture cleansers.

February 2008
Latest information on Special Focus Facilities, new Quality First guidelines, a new CMS survey and cert letter on surveyors' use of interpretive guidance, and news about several product recalls and FDA warnings.

January 2008
Legislative successes for 2007, a new survey and cert letter, appropriate use of anti–depressants in nursing homes, the latest on NPI implementation and the Advancing Excellence Campaign, and check FDA notices on Endrate, bisphosphonates, and recalls of contour test strips, the Alaris pump module, and pre–filled Heparin lock flush solution.

December 2007
Get the latest on our survey and certification task force's deliberations, our testimony on nursing home transparency and quality, a modification in the nurse aide training lock-out, NPI implementation, and tips from Quality First. Also check FDA notices on Avandia, Thoratec IVADs and cefepime.

November 2007
Update on user fees for survey revisits, get the latest on NPI implementation, new survey and cert information on emergency preparedness, and check FDA notices on Byetta and Provigil.

October 2007
Get the latest news on user fees for survey revisits, Medicare legislation, our new staffing bill, three new CMS survey and certification letters, and the Advancing Excellence Campaign. Check FDA notices on Fentora, Haloperidol, defibrillators, Rocephin, blood glucose meters and saline flush syringes.

September 2007
The latest on user fees for survey revisits, new guidance on employment of paid feeding assistants, OSHA's new tool for keeping your workplace safe, and FDA notices on diabetes drugs, power wheelchairs, warfarin, Baraclude, red yeast products, Prilosec and Nexium.

August 2007
Contact Legislators Now on User Fees, Medicare Payment Freeze; New Surveyor Guidance on Accidents and Supervision; CMS Releases New Survey and Certification Letter on State Agency Communication; New CMS Letter on Requirements for Sprinklers for Canopies and Overhangs and more.

July 2007
Defeat the proposed user fee for survey revisits, get the latest on SNF no-pay billing, the Advancing Excellence Campaign, and the new CMS Survey and Certification Letter clarifying definitions related to the use of restraints.

June 2007
Defeat the proposed user fee for survey revisits, get the latest on NPI implementation and the Advancing Excellence Campaign, and check FDA notices on Avandia, shark cartilage capsules, and toothpaste made in China.

May 16, 2007
Get the latest information on the proposed payment update for 2008, a CMS memo on physical restraints, our statement to the Senate Aging Committee on OBRA at 20, and Medwatch notices from the Food and Drug Administration on medication and medical equipment

April 17, 2007
Find out how your facility can participate in the Advancing Quality in Nursing Homes campaign. Also read about the implementation of the National Provider Identifier number and its relationship to survey and certification, and get the latest Medwatch notices from the Food and Drug Administration on medication and medical equipment.

Feb. 7, 2007
An account of our new Survey and Certification Task Force’s initial work, opportunities to participate in the Advancing Excellence in America’s Nursing Homes campaign, a reminder about obtaining your National Provider Identifier, and the issue of Medicare payment updates for fiscal year 2008.

Jan. 4, 2007
Read about the final CMS guidance on pharmacy and unnecessary drugs, a new survey and cert letter, and several FDA safety information and adverse event reporting notices.

Nov. 30, 2006
Read about a new CMS survey and certification letter on fire safety requirement, a nursing home immunization toolkit and staff education regarding the False Claims Act.

Nov. 6, 2006
Read about the proposed sprinkler rule, CMS's regulatory plan for 2007, the latest survey and certification letters, and several FDA safety notices.

Oct. 6, 2006
Read about the new Quality Campaign, flu immunization guidelines, final rules for alcohol rub dispensers and smoke alarms, and several Food and Drug Administration Medwatch notices.

Sept. 6, 2006
Read about our new calculation tool for the 2007 rehabilitation therapy codes, upcoming payment hold on Medicare claims, CMS' upcoming NPI roundtable and a reminder on Privacy Protections for resident information.

Aug. 3, 2006
New calculator tool reflecting the October 1 Medicare payment update, resident privacy protections, the National Provider Identifier, and FDA safety notices on several medications and devices.

July 4, 2006
Read about provider tax cuts, the new Medicaid requirement for citizenship documentation, and several Food and Drug Administration alerts on drugs and medical devices.

June 6, 2006
Read about the most recent directives from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Food and Drug Administration that will affect your facility’s operations, including clarification of Life Safety Code requirements, the posting of staffing information, and residents’ rights under Part D.

May 2, 2006
Read about new guidance on lifting and moving residents, a new Survey and Certification letter on complaints, more instructions for Medicare expedited review notices, and an FDA warning about regulators used with oxygen cylinders.

April 4, 2006
Includes FDA guidance on preventing entrapment in hospital beds; new CMS guidances to surveyors on Activities, Psychosocial Outcomes, and Quality Assessment; a new survey and certification letter on Complaints; toolkits for flu vaccination and Medicare Part D enrollment.

March 2, 2006
Read about Medicare therapy caps and prescription drug claims, our meeting with CMS on survey and certification issues, and FDA product safety notices.

Dec. 6, 2005
Information on flu vaccine and staff posting rules, three survey and certification letters, and several notices from the Food and Drug Administration.

Oct. 19, 2005
Information about the new influenza vaccination rule, the most recent survey and certification letter, and several Food and Drug Administration product safety warnings.

Sept. 7, 2005

Aug. 1, 2005

July 1, 2005