News for MDS Experts
Check out our insightful articles and current social feed of news that’s important to MDS Coordinators.
Our Latest Articles
MDS Nutrition – Not Limited to Section K
Often Section K on the MDS, associated CAAs, and care planning are relegated to the dietician to worry about. However, when we look at a comprehensive MDS, we can see that the information in Section...
Celebrating Skilled Nursing
National Skilled Nursing Week is held annually in May to recognize long-term care professionals that care for our residents in Skilled Nursing Facilities. This year’s National Skilled Nursing Week...
MDS Errors: Steps for Correction
What does the NAC do when they identify an error on an MDS assessment? The answer is correct the identified error. Any error that incorrectly represents the resident's status needs to be corrected....
📅 Case Mix Snapshot: What You Need to Know Now
Your snapshot date isn’t just a calendar reminder; it’s the foundation of your Medicaid reimbursement. States use this specific day to determine your facility’s Case Mix Index (CMI) based on the MDS assessments completed at that time.
💡 To be snapshot-ready, make sure your team is:
- Completing timely, accurate MDS assessments
- Capturing all clinical conditions that impact case mix
- Maintaining solid documentation to support coding
- Coordinating assessment timing across the IDT
Missed details can impact your Medicaid reimbursement. MDS Consultants supports facilities in preparing for case mix accuracy with a focus on compliance, documentation, and assessment timing.
🧭 Need a second set of eyes before your next snapshot?
𝗟𝗲𝘁’𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆.
#CaseMix #SnapshotDate #MedicaidReimbursement #MDSConsultants #PDPM #CMI #SkilledNursingFinance #MDSAccuracy #LTCCompliance ... See MoreSee Less
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📋 Friday MDS Tip of the Day
𝗧𝗶𝗽: 𝗜𝗳 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗗𝗦, 𝗶𝘁 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱—𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗱.
Sections like GG, I8000, J and the interview sections require accurate, interdisciplinary documentation. Whether it’s mobility, diagnoses, pain indicators, or mood interviews, the supporting documentation should be timely, consistent, and reflect what's coded. If surveyors or auditors can’t find it, you’re at risk.
#MDSTip #RAIManual2023 #MDSAccuracy #SkilledNursing #LTCCompliance #SurveyReady #PDPM ... See MoreSee Less
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📅 Thursday MDS Tip of the Day
MDS Coordinators: Set that ARD with intention—𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗹𝗲𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄!
The ARD starts the clock. Choose it strategically based on clinical needs and compliance, then communicate it clearly to the IDT. A missed ARD can mean missed dollars and documentation headaches. 💸🧠
#mdstip #ltccompliance #MDSCoordinator #SkilledNursing #PDPM ... See MoreSee Less
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New Newsletter Alert: “MDS Nutrition – Not Limited to Section K”
Think nutrition is just about Section K? Think again.
Our latest newsletter dives into how the entire IDT team plays a role in nutritional accuracy, care planning, and survey readiness.
✨ Inside this issue:
✅ Beyond Section K – the full nutritional picture
✅ FREE Webinar: Boost Your Nutrition Expertise (June 17 @ 11AM ET)
✅ CMS Updates: Appendix PP, MDS Drafts, and iQIES
✅ Exclusive Expert Webinars: July–Sept topics announced!
👉 Click here to read the full newsletter and register for upcoming events: cstu.io/55b046
#MDSConsultants #SectionK #SkilledNursing #RAIProcess #LongTermCare #MDSUpdate #IDT #Dietitians #CarePlanning #CMSupdates #nutritionthatworksllc ... See MoreSee Less
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🧠 MDS Wednesday Tip: Care Plan Connections
𝗜𝗳 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗗𝗦, 𝗶𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻.
🗂️ Pain? Mood? Falls? ADLs? Tie it all in.
🎯 Show surveyors that your care is truly resident-centered.
Pro Tip: 𝗗𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗤 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗮𝗹𝘀, 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝘁𝗼𝗼!
#MDS #CarePlanning #SkilledNursing #SurveyReady #LongTermCare MDS Consultants ... See MoreSee Less
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⭐Check out the CMS Quality in Focus interactive video series on the Quality, Safety & Education Portal Training Catalog webpage under the “Quality in Focus (QIF)” tab. These 10–15-minute videos are tailored to specific provider types and aim to enhance the quality of care for individuals enrolled in Medicare and Medicaid by addressing and reducing the deficiencies cited most during CMS surveys, like infection control and accident prevention. cstu.io/c8bd46
We recently added 4 new videos to address common deficiencies:
Long Term Care (LTC): Infection Prevention and Control
LTC: Food Safety Requirements
Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments: Successful Participation in a Proficiency Testing Program
Critical Access Hospitals: Patient Care Policies
They’ll help you learn how to:
Understand surveyor evaluation criteria
Recognize deficiencies
Incorporate solutions into your facility’s standards of care ... See MoreSee Less
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📢 PDPM for Medicaid isn’t just Medicare in disguise.
Every state adds its own twist!
🎯 Are you ready for your state’s version?
Stay informed. Stay compliant. Stay ahead.
#PDPM #MedicaidPDPM #SkilledNursing #MDSConsultants #ComplianceMatters #LongTermCare #KnowYourState #RAIaccuracy ... See MoreSee Less
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📌 Tuesday MDS Tip
“Diagnosis Matters: Accuracy Starts in Section I”
Don’t let outdated or unsupported diagnoses sneak onto your MDS. Make sure each diagnosis listed in Section I is:
✔ Actively treated in the look-back period
✔ Supported by physician documentation
✔ Properly coded with specificity
🧠 Pro Tip: Aligning Section I diagnoses with treatment and care plans improves PDPM accuracy and reduces audit risk. ... See MoreSee Less
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📝 MDS Monday Tip
“Don’t Overlook Section GG!”
Section GG impacts multiple payment components under PDPM and influences quality measures. Accurate and timely documentation of functional status is crucial during the 3-day assessment window.
📅 Tip: Educate nursing and therapy staff to document actual performance—not potential—during the first 3 days of admission.
#MDSMondays #PDPM #SectionGG #NursingHomeCompliance #MDSConsultants #ClinicalAccuracy ... See MoreSee Less
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