ACFI best practice guidelines - a checklist
Increasing ACFI funding without over-claiming, especially when it’s for care that’s already being provided, is an outcome that many organisations have been able to achieve.
When we’ve been helping organisations to achieve this, there’s a number of things that are common to the organisations who do well.
Below is a checklist of things to help identify whether or not there are opportunities within your facility to help increase, and just as importantly maintain, your funding:
- ACFI is reviewed in conjunction with any care plan review or update
- A physical assessment is conducted by the clinician completing the ACFI
- ACFI reviews are identified based on change in numbers, not change in letters
- Multiple reappraisals are prioritised in terms of dollar-gap (not current rate)
- The residents’ rate is projected before a reappraisal is commenced
- A specific order for completion of assessments and charts is followed
- Behaviour charts are put out with identified behaviours already documented
- Behaviour recording is routinely limited to entry of the code (not descriptions)
- Care plans are reviewed and updated prior to submission
- One person completes all assessments (or every word is reviewed for congruency)
- Only someone who has had specific training does the PAS
- Someone is appointed to ensure charts are completed each shift
- It takes 1-day or less of staff time to complete the entire ACFI Appraisal Pack
- Assessments and supporting evidence are printed out at the time of appraisal
- It takes 7-days to complete and submit a reappraisal once a change is identified
- A real-time list of complex pain management claims is maintained
If there are any of the above that you haven’t been able to tick, then your site may not be accessing all of the funding you’re eligible for based on current care needs.
HCA Online Learning has developed a set of ACFI Online Courses that may assist to refocus your ACFI team and provide a further upskilling opportunity to ensure you are receiving your funding in a way that’s risk-free and sustainable.