05/20/2026

PALTC News - May 20

'Case Mix Creep': CMS Scrutinizes PDPM Coding Trends as SNF Providers Warned of Potential Margin Hits

Skilled Nursing News
Coding for treatment of certain conditions has surged substantially, and as CMS pulls closer to finalizing the Skilled Nursing Facility Prospective Payment System in July, the agency will be looking to see if these increases reflect legitimate changes in resident complexity and care practices rather than upcoding. Read more.

Recent COVID-19 Vaccination and Risk of SARS-CoV-2 Transmission

JAMA
In this cohort study, recent COVID-19 vaccination was associated with a reduced risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission. These findings suggest that COVID-19 vaccination may have an indirect benefit of decreasing transmission and thus reducing overall exposure to SARS-CoV-2. Read more.

Same Patients, Different Health Care Systems—Revisited. Geriatric Care Models in the U.S., Canada, and Europe

Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
Health care systems differ worldwide, enabling learning from one another and improving care for older adults with similar clinical profiles. This article describes the approach to care for the same patient in the three respective health-care systems. Read more.

How AI Supports Clinical Decision-Making in Long-Term Care

Provider Magazine
In long-term and post-acute care, the past decade has focused heavily on improving visibility into resident health. Remote patient monitoring, electronic health records, and connected devices have made it easier to track vital signs, detect changes, and generate alerts. Yet despite this progress, it is challenging to turn data into timely, confident clinical decisions. A new class of tools, known as AI clinical co-pilots, is beginning to address this gap. Read more.