News for MDS Experts

🚨Electronic Staffing Data Submission Payroll-Based Journal Long-Term Care Facility Policy Manual has been updated for June 2025 with the Electronic Staffing Data Submission Payroll-Based Journal (PBJ) Frequently Asked Questions.
cstu.io/877a1f
cstu.io/4fca8d ... See MoreSee Less

The May update of Appendix B to the MDS 3.0 RAI User’s Manual contains changes to the list of State RAI Coordinators, MDS Automation Coordinators, and CMS locations and contacts. To ensure accurate formatting, use a current version of Adobe Acrobat Reader to view this PDF. Web-based or mobile browser plug-ins may affect how the file is displayed.https://cstu.io/bdbeeb ... See MoreSee Less

We’re Heading to FHCA! Come Say Hi and Try Your Luck!

MDS Consultants is excited to exhibit at the FHCA 2025 Annual Conference in Orlando, July 13–17! You’ll find us at Booth #307, and we’d love to meet you!

While you’re at Booth #307, don’t forget to grab our brand-new High-Risk Medication Tool to help manage risk and boost survey readiness, and learn how we can support your team with:
- MDS completion and MDS system management
- CMI and ICD-10 coding support
- Compliance audits

🚨 Bonus Stop:
On Tuesday, July 15, from 12:30–1:30 PM, come see us at Booth #1226 for the FHCA Wine Toss, try your luck, share some laughs, and take a quick break during your conference day.

Want to reserve a time to chat at Booth #307 or pick up your free tool? Send us a message — we’d love to connect!

#FHCA #FHCAConference2025 #LongTermCare #SkilledNursing #MDSConsultants #NursingHomeLeaders #PDPM #CMI #WineToss #SeeYouInOrlando ... See MoreSee Less

Why did the OIG (Office of Inspector General) do this review? Nursing home residents and families depend on nursing homes to maintain sufficient staffing to meet their needs. To that end, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has long required nursing homes to meet minimum staffing requirements, which include at least 8 hours of registered nurse (RN) services each day.
𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙚𝙫𝙖𝙡𝙪𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙡𝙮 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙡𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙣𝙚𝙬 𝙙𝙖𝙩𝙖 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙜𝙪𝙞𝙙𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙮 𝘾𝙈𝙎 𝙩𝙤 𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙮 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙛𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙙𝙚𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙞𝙚𝙨.
Previously, CMS implemented the Payroll Based Journal (PBJ) to provide consumers with more accurate information about nursing home staffing. The PBJ is a system where nursing homes submit auditable information about the hours worked each day by different types of staff. Then in response to OIG recommendations, CMS began providing certain PBJ data to State survey agencies (States) along with guidance for using the data during nursing home inspections. See what OIG found and what their recommendations are in the attached reports. cstu.io/de5ff6
cstu.io/da70f3 ... See MoreSee Less

🚨 Legislation Update Alert for SNFs

The Senate just released a new budget proposal that could bring big changes to Medicaid and staffing requirements in long-term care.
✅ Nursing homes may be excluded from certain Medicaid funding cuts
✅ Proposed repeal of the federal staffing mandate

⚠️ Shorter window for Medicaid retroactive coverage from 3 months to 60 days

These changes are still in progress, but facilities should be prepared to adjust quickly if the bill passes.

🔍 Full article: “Reconciliation Update: Senate Finance Committee Releases Their Version”- cstu.io/ccb70b

Our team at MDS Consultants is keeping a close eye on the process to help facilities stay ahead.
Have questions about how this may affect your MDS or PDPM process? Let’s talk: cstu.io/9bf72e

#LongTermCare #MedicaidUpdate #SNFLeadership #NursingHomes #ComplianceSupport #MDSConsultants #LTCProfessionals #StaffingMandate #SkilledNursiing ... See MoreSee Less

📢Medicare Part B covers the reasonable and necessary costs of durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies, which include parenteral nutrition (Social Security Act §§ 1861(s)(8) and 1862(a)(1)(A)). For CYs 2022 and 2023, Medicare paid more than $487 million for parenteral nutrition. For both years, CMS's Comprehensive Error Rate Testing reports identified improper payments due to a lack of documentation showing medical necessity, coding errors, and insufficient or no documentation. The OIG work plan will determine whether Medicare paid suppliers of durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies for parenteral nutrition in accordance with Medicare requirements. cstu.io/0d27f7 ... See MoreSee Less