LTC NAC Chat

In this LTC NAC Chat podcast episode, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Jessie McGill, RN, BSN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, senior curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, discuss the self-perception of those working as the role of the nurse assessment coordinator (NAC) and how they can feel more respected in their job.

In this LTC NAC Chat podcast episode, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Jessie McGill, RN, BSN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, senior curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, discuss falls with major injury and a sneak peek into McGill’s breakout session at the AAPACN 2026 Conference. Additional Resources: AAPACN 2026 Conference Long-Stay Nursing Home – Falls with Major Injury Respecification: Technical Specification Report New Year, New Measure: Making Sense of the Long-Stay Antipsychotic Re-Specification – AAPACN Webinar

In this LTC NAC Chat podcast episode, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Jennifer LaBay, RN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, QCP, CRC, curriculum development specialist with AAPACN discuss when and why the SNF Advanced Beneficiary Notice should be used. Beneficiary Notice Guidelines Tool Simplifying the SNF ABN: Helping Residents Understand Their Options

In this LTC NAC Chat podcast episode, AAPACN staff, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer, Jessie McGill, RN, BSN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, senior curriculum development specialist, and Jennifer LaBay, RN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, QCP, CRC, curriculum development specialist, share some of the highlights for the AAPACN 2026 Conference in Orlando, Florida that will be held March 17 – 20, 2026. Additional Resources: AAPACN 2026 Conference webpage

In this LTC NAC Chat podcast episode, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Jessie McGill, RN, BSN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, senior curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, discuss recent changes to section GG in the RAI User’s Manual.

In this LTC NAC Chat podcast episode, Jennifer LaBay, RN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, QCP, CRC, curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, and Jessie McGill, RN, BSN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, senior curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, answer some follow-up questions from the recent AAPACN webinar, “Ready or Not: Oct. 1, 2025 MDS Changes,” hosted on Sept. 18, 2025. Additional Resources: Ready or Not: Preparing for the Oct. 1, 2025, MDS Changes – Sept. 18 2025

In this LTC NAC Chat podcast episode, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Jessie McGill, RN, BSN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, senior curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, discuss some of the unexpected changes released in the final draft of the RAI User’s Manual version 1.20.1, which went into effect this October 1. Additional Resources: AAPACN Resources to Help Prepare for Oct. 1, 2025, MDS Changes

In this LTC NAC Chat podcast episode, Jessie McGill, RN, BSN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, senior curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, and Jennifer LaBay, RN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, QCP, CRC, curriculum development specialist with AAPACN, discuss AAPACN’s latest education program, PDPM Documentation Essentials for the IDT. Additional Resources: PDPM Documentation Essentials for the IDT MDS Essentials PDPM At-a-Glance

In this LTC NAC Chat podcast episode, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Jessie McGill, RN, BSN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, senior curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, discuss a new way for NACs to test their knowledge – the NAC Competency Evaluation.Additional Resources: NAC Competency Evaluation NAC Competency Evaluation Guide NAC Competency Evaluation Instructional Video

In this LTC NAC Chat podcast episode, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Jessie McGill, RN, BSN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, senior curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, discuss key findings from the 2025 AAPACN NAC Work Study and Salary Report. Additional Resources: Nurse Assessment Coordinator FTE Calculator Tool 2025 AAPACN NAC Work Study and Salary Report 2025 NAC Work Study and Salary Report: Support NACs and Determine FTE Needs

In this LTC NAC Chat podcast episode, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, Jessie McGill, RN, BSN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, senior curriculum development specialist with AAPACN, discuss the MDS changes coming this fall and what we know right now. Additional Resource: Quality Virtual Conference

In this LTC NAC Chat podcast episode, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Jennifer LaBay, RN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, QCP, CRC, curriculum development specialist with AAPACN, discuss the Medicare appeals process in skilled nursing facilities. Additional Resources: Medicare Parts A & B Appeals Process: How the Five Levels of Appeal Work – AAPACN Article Medicare Advantage vs. FFS Part A Expedited Determinations: What’s the Difference? – AAPACN Article RAC-CTA - Medical Reviews and Oversight for the Advanced Medicare Specialist - Online + PDF – AAPACN On-Demand Course Medicare Basic Training Part 9: Beneficiary Notices Initiative On-Demand Workshop – AAPACN Training Medicare Basic Training Part 10: Medical Review and Appeals On-Demand Workshop – AAPACN Training Original Medicare (Parts A and B Fee-for-Service) Initial Determination/Appeals Process – CMS Flow Chart Beneficiary Notices Initiative – CMS Forms and Instructions for Notices CMS Levels of Appeal – Website Reference

In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Jennifer LaBay, RN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, QCP, CRC, curriculum development specialist with AAPACN, discuss the sequencing of ICD-10-CM diagnosis coding.Additional Resources: ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting AAPACN Articles:  Deep Dive into ICD-10-CM: Diagnosis Sequencing Guidelines Five Mistakes Often Made Selecting ICD-10-CM Codes in the SNF How to Use the ICD-10-CM Coding Manual ICD-10-CM: Navigating the Term “With,” Combination Codes, and Complications of Care Deep Dive into ICD-10-CM Coding: Misunderstood Coding Guidelines ICD-10 Coding: Keys to Achieving the Highest Specificity Updates to ICD-10-CM Coding Guidelines: Key Revisions and Their Implications ​​​​​​​AAPACN Education: ICD-10-CM Coding Certificate Program for SNFs RAC-CT – Introduction to ICD-10-CM Coding for Long-Term Care ​​​​​​​AAPACN Tool: Provider ICD-10-CM Documentation Tip Sheet for Long-Term CareThis AAPACN resource is copyright protected. AAPACN individual members may download or print one copy for use within their facility only. AAPACN facility organizational members have unlimited use only within facilities included in their organizational membership. Violation of AAPACN copyright may result in membership termination and loss of all AAPACN certification credentials. Learn more.

In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Denise Winzeler, BSN, RN, LNHA, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, director of education and certification strategy for AAPACN, discuss the new Appendix PP updates related to admission, transfer, and discharge going into effect April 28, 2025. Additional Resources: Appendix PP Regulatory Updates – 2025 F-Tag Library On-Demand Series CMS Nursing Homes Webpage – LTC Survey Pathways can be found in the Survey Resources ZIP file under the Downloads section

In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Jessie McGill, RN, BSN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, senior curriculum development specialist with AAPACN, discuss ways nurse assessment coordinators can advance their Quality Measures knowledge. Additional Resources:Quality Measure IQ Series: Pressure Ulcer Measures – ArticleQuality Measure IQ Series: Antipsychotic Medication Measures – ArticleQuality Measure IQ Series: All the Vaccine Measures – ArticleQuality Measure IQ Series: Discharge Function Score Measure – ArticleQuality Measure IQ Series: Long-Stay Falls Measures – ArticleQuality Measures: Fundamentals of Exclusions – PodcastJanuary 2025 Five-Star Unfreeze: What to Expect – PodcastMDS 3.0 Quality Measures: Start with the Basic Ingredients – May 2, 2024 – On-Demand WebinarAt-a-Glance QM, QRP, and VBP Tool – ToolWhen MDS 3.0 Quality Measure Triggers Start and Stop – ToolFive-Star and Care Compare MDS 3.0 Quality Measure Data Periods – ToolQuality Measures Survival Guide – ProductQuality Measures Rescue Guide – Product

In this podcast, Jessie McGill, RN, BSN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, senior curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, and Jennifer LaBay, RN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, QCP, CRC, curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, address some of the questions that were asked during the AAPACN Webinar, “SNF ABN, NOMNC, DENC – What Has Changed for this Alphabet Soup of Notices” held January 30, 2025. Additional Resources: SNF ABN, NOMNC, DENC – What Has Changed for This Alphabet Soup of Notices? – Jan. 30, 2025 Beneficiary Notice Guidelines Tool

In this podcast, Denise Winzeler, BSN, RN, LNHA, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, director of education and certification strategy for AAPACN, and Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, discuss self-care and the importance of taking a break.

In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Jessie McGill, RN, BSN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, senior curriculum development specialist with AAPACN, discuss a new method for auditing the Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM).  Additional Resource:PDPM Audit by MDS Section

In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Jessie McGill, RN, BSN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, senior curriculum development specialist with AAPACN, discuss what to expect this January when Five-Star unfreezes several quality measures.

In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Jennifer LaBay, RN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, QCP, CRC, and Jessie McGill, RN, BSN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, curriculum development specialists with AAPACN, discuss best practices to prepare for an AAPACN certification. Additional Resources: Resident Assessment Coordinator—Certified (RAC-CT®) Resident Assessment Coordinator—Certified Advanced (RAC-CTA®) QAPI Certified Professional (QCP®) Director of Nursing Services—Certified (DNS-CT®) Candidate Handbooks