The MDS Expert Blog
Read on for insights from our expert staff and our commentary in the press.
Use MDS Section B to Improve Holistic Discharge Planning
By Caralyn Davis, Staff Writer August 17, 2021 Full article available to Members at https://www.aapacn.org/ Successfully using section B in discharge planning hinges on the accuracy of the coding, says Melanie Tribe-Scott, BSN, RN, RAC-MTA, RAC-MT, RAC-CTA, RAC-CT, QCP, director of education and marketing for MDS Consultants in Medina, NY. “With such a heavy focus…
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ICD-10 Coding and Guideline Updates for FY 2022
Earlier this summer, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the ICD-10-CM code descriptions, tables and index, and addendum for the fiscal year 2022. Then on July 12th, the Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting of ICD-10-CM became available online. The updated manual and guidelines for FY 2022 revealed 159 new codes, along…
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Can I interrupt? Understanding the Interrupted Stay Policy
According to the RAI Manual, chapter 6: “The interruption window is a 3-day period, starting with the calendar day of Part A discharge and including the two immediately following calendar days, ending at midnight. In other words, the resident must return to the same SNF by 11:59 p.m. at the end of the third calendar…
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Is the Value Based Purchasing Program Changing?
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued its fiscal year (FY) 2022 proposed rule for the skilled nursing facility (SNF) prospective payment system (PPS) in April. CMS believes that scores on the one quality measure used in the SNF VBP program (30-day All-cause Readmissions) have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which would…
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SNF QRP Changes are Coming
The Proposed Rule for Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 for the Skilled Nursing Facility Prospective Payment System was released early April 2021. Now that providers have had a chance to digest the proposed SNF payment updates and the PDPM parity adjustment, attention turns to the quality initiatives that have been updated. Just 1 NTA point can…
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The Struggle with Antipsychotic Reduction
Since CMS began to monitor antipsychotic use in 2011, skilled nursing facilities have done well to reduce the use of antipsychotic medications from the original rate of 23.9%. However, over the past few years, the rate has remained around 14%. Some facilities believe they have done everything possible and this 14% represents residents that truly…
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Non-Therapy Ancillaries: What are you missing?
The Non-Therapy Ancillaries (NTA) component of PDPM can significantly increase revenue depending on MDS and ICD-10 coding. Just 1 NTA point can have an average worth of anywhere from $18 to $55 per day. (difference of NE-NF and NA-NB). The general method for calculation of any NTA category is as follows: Points (1-8) are assigned…
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Coding N2001 – N2005: Part A Drug Regimen Review
By Caralyn Davis, Staff Writer – March 2, 2021 Full article available to Members at https://www.aanac.org/ “CMS has been concerned about medication-related adverse events for many years. Identifying potential and actual clinically significant medication issues, communicating those issues to the physician, and then implementing physician-prescribed or physician-recommended interventions in a timely manner-at admission and throughout…
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SNF Physician Certifications for Medical Review
One of the requirements of payment is a valid Physicians Certification for Medicare part A services. If SNF certifications and re-certifications are not completed and signed following CMS regulations, then the facility is at risk of losing payment for an entire claim period. According to the Medicare Administrative Contractor, Noridian: “Analysis of claim denials from…
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Five-Star Preview: Not All Good News
The transition from Nursing Home Compare to Care Compare and unexpected Five Star Quality Rating updates brought disappointment to some Skilled Nursing Facilities. Due to the public health emergency (PHE), the rating system’s three domains had previously been held constant. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that the Five Star Quality Rating system…
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Focused Infection Control Surveys and Directed Plan of Correction
It’s a dreary Monday morning, and the state surveyors walk into your facility to conduct a Focused Infection Control survey. You and your team have been trying your hardest to comply with infection control procedures throughout the pandemic. At the end of the survey, you are issued several citations and the state is requiring the…
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Five Star Updates
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released the October 2020 version of the Five-Star Quality Measure System Technical Users’ Guide. It includes several revisions and updates for the Staffing, Quality Measure, and Health Inspection ratings in response to the Public Health Emergency (PHE). Health Inspection Since the Nursing Home Compare (NHC) refresh…
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New Advanced Beneficiary Notice
Is your facility using the proper ABN form? The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently updated the Advanced Beneficiary Notice of Noncoverage (ABN), Form CMS-R-131. The new ABN will be mandatory for use on 1/1/2021, but the new form can be implemented now. CMS debuted an updated ABN for use this summer but…
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PDPM ICD-10 Mapping Changes Effective Oct 1, 2020
With the beginning of fiscal year 2021 October 1, there will be the expected changes to our MDS and billing processes. This year the number of changes is limited due to the unprecedented public health emergency we are experiencing with COVID-19. Despite that, we can expect updates to the PDPM ICD-10 Mapping Tool this year.…
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Covid-19 and Skilled Status
In late June, CMS addressed two issues and posted MDS 3.0 Final Item Sets (V1.17.2). The two edits were changes to facilitate the calculation of Patient-Driven Payment Model payment codes on OBRA assessments for states that wish to have this calculation performed. These two edits will be revised and go into production on October 1,…
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Mind Your PHQs
Some skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) are concerned about accurate payment when a resident unexpectedly discharges and the Brief Interview for Mental Status (BIMS) has not yet been completed. However, they should be just as concerned about the PHQ-9. The PHQ-9 identifies depressive symptoms to be captured on the MDS. The interview follows the same basic…
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Medicaid Changes Coming in October 2020
In late June, CMS addressed two issues and posted MDS 3.0 Final Item Sets (V1.17.2). The two edits were changes to facilitate the calculation of Patient-Driven Payment Model payment codes on OBRA assessments for states that wish to have this calculation performed. These two edits will be revised and go into production on October 1,…
Read More Section GG: Assessing Usual Performance During the COVID-19 Pandemic
By Caralyn Davis, Staff Writer – July 07, 2020 Full article available to Members at https://www.aanac.org/ The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) makes clear in the title of MDS section GG (Usual Performance and Goals) that the assessment subitems in items GG0130 (Self-Care) and GG0170 (Mobility) are designed to capture a resident’s usual ability or…
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Isolation and COVID
Many providers have have cohorted residents in the same isolation room – applying recent CMS and CDC guidance during the COVID-19 emergency. This cohorting leaves many providers with the question: Can we code isolation on the MDS for cohorted residents? These facilities recognize that coding isolation will result in higher reimbursement in the PDPM, State…
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Section 1135 Waivers
When the President and HHS Secretary declared a national health emergency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, they triggered section 1135 of the Social Security Act. Section 1135 allows the Secretary to temporarily waive or modify certain Medicare and Medicaid requirements to ensure sufficient health care for enrollees. Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs) were issued multiple…
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Summary of The Proposed PPS Final Rule
Every April a Proposed PPS Final Rule is put forth by CMS. The proposed rule this year (2020) would update the SNF prospective payment rates for fiscal year (FY)2021 as required under the Social Security Act. CMS recognizes that the entire healthcare system is focused on responding to the COVID-19 public health emergency. As a…
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MDS in the Emergency Preparedness Plan
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for skilled nursing facilities to have an effective Emergency Preparedness Plan – one that includes sheltering-in-place. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Final Rule requires that participating providers have an active Emergency Preparedness Plan. With reimbursement payments, accreditation status, and liability exposures all on the line, long-term care…
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COVID-19 Resources
COVID-19 (coronavirus) Tools In this difficult time, MDS Consultants is here for you with reimbursement guidance and can help with MDS completions when needed. Our team keeps an up-to-date list of links and resources at https://mds-consultants.com/helpful-cms-info/ COVID-19 (coronavirus) Updates Novel Coronavirus 2019, or COVID-19, is causing a crisis in our healthcare system. Do not let…
Read More What Is an MDS Coordinator?
It’s a bit odd that when asked what you do for a living most MDS coordinators struggle to come up with an answer. Who struggles to explain what they do every day? The reality is that MDS coordinators fully understand what this multifaceted job entails but are at a loss how to put it into…
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Staffing in the World of PDPM
The Patient Driven Payment Model (PDPM) is here, and even well-prepared organizations are uncertain about precisely what the future will hold for this new system of reimbursement for nursing home care. To gain some insights on staffing in the world of PDPM, InFront talked to Melanie Tribe-Scott and Gloria Brent from MDS Consultants during last…
Read More 7 Baseline Care Plan Myths
By Caralyn Davis, Staff Writer Excerpted from: https://www.aanac.org/Information/LTC-Leader-Newsletter/post/7-baseline-care-plan-myths/2018-01-24 Baseline care plans have been required since late November 2017, but nurse assessment coordinators (NACs) and other interdisciplinary team (IDT) members are still navigating through a lot of misinformation to learn the rules of the road for F655 (Baseline Care Plans) as detailed in Appendix PP of…
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QAPI Resources
We’ve compiled a list of helpful QAPI resources from CMS as well as other organizations and experts. CMS Regulations & News Nursing Home Quality Assurance & Performance Improvement (QAPI) QAPI News Brief – Volume 1 QAPI News Brief – Volume 2 SNF Quality Reporting Program (IMPACT Act of 2014) Nursing Home Quality Initiative Patient Protection…
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It’s QAPI Time!
QAPI will soon be in the spotlight. All skilled nursing facilities, by November 28 of this year, must have their QAPI plan ready to provide to the Annual Survey. For those who don’t have their plan in place, here is a quick QAPI primer. What Is QAPI? QAPI stands for Quality Assurance / Performance Improvement. …
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How Much Staff Do I Need for MDS?
We all know that a lot of time, energy and effort go into completing an MDS. But how many hours should you really be spending? Factors to Consider in Calculating MDS Staffing Time What is your average LTC census per year? What is your average Rehab Census per year? What is your average LOS…
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Determining Nurse Aide Staffing Requirements
CONCLUSIONS: The average nurse aide staffing levels reported by NHs falls below the level of staffing predicted as necessary to provide consistent ADL care to all residents in need. DES methodology can be used to determine nurse aide staffing requirements to provide ADL care and simulate management interventions to improve care efficiency and quality. ABSTRACT:…
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