5-Star Helpline Available March 25 – 29

The Five Star Preview Reports will be available on or around March 20, 2024. Provider Preview Reports have moved to iQIES as of August 2023. Please follow the steps below to locate the Provider Preview Report in iQIES: 1) Log into iQIES at https://iqies.cms.gov/ using your Health Care Quality Information Systems (HCQIS) …

4 Key Purposes of the Care Area Assessment Process

The care area assessments (CAAs) are a vital part of the Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) process to develop a plan for individualized resident care. Taking shortcuts with the CAA process can result in generic care plans that fail to recognize the unique needs, choices, and preferences of each resident. Understanding …

TIP: CMS Released Draft MDS Data Specifications Files for October 2024 Updates

In early March, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the MDS Data Specifications V3.02.0 (DRAFT). These draft files detail the following changes tentatively scheduled for Oct. 1, 2024: CMS also clarified that section S item additions are not present in this draft version but will be present …

Q&A: A resident discharged from hospice with one company and enrolled with a different hospice provider a week later. Do I need to complete a Significant Change in Status Assessment (SCSA) for both the hospice discharge and again for the new hospice enrollment?

Question: A resident discharged from hospice with one company and enrolled with a different hospice provider a week later. Do I need to complete a Significant Change in Status Assessment (SCSA) for both the hospice discharge and again for the new hospice enrollment? Answer from Carol Maher, RN-BC, RAC-MTA, RAC-MT, …

Q&A: On a discharge assessment, the documentation showed that the resident refused the last three weekly skin assessments and there is no other documentation in the medical record regarding skin condition. How do I code M0100, M0210, and M0300? 

Question: On a discharge assessment, the documentation showed that the resident refused the last three weekly skin assessments and there is no other documentation in the medical record regarding skin condition. How do I code M0100, M0210, and M0300?  Answer from Jessie McGill, RN, BNS, RAC-MTA, RAC-CTA: For M0100, you …

Q&A: We have a resident on a traditional Medicare Part A stay who was discharged back to the hospital on day three. How should I schedule the 5-Day PPS assessment and the Admission assessment, and would this change if he returns within the 3-day interruption window?

Question: We have a resident on a traditional Medicare Part A stay who was discharged back to the hospital on day three. How should I schedule the 5-Day PPS assessment and the Admission assessment, and would this change if he returns within the 3-day interruption window? Answer from Scott Heichel, …

CMS Nursing Home Data Sets Updated

COVID-19 Vaccination Rates – State and National Averages State and National averages for facility resident and healthcare personnel COVID-19 vaccination rates. Data are presented as one row per state or territory plus a row for national averages. Note: On January 1, 2024, the CDC changed the data collection methodology for …

MDS Data Specifications V3.02.0 (DRAFT) Available

The MDS Data Specifications V3.02.0 (DRAFT) are now available for download under the Downloads section at the bottom of this webpage.  The Section GG goal items will be removed, and three new items will be added:  O0350 (a COVID-19 related item). and N0415K1 and N0415K2 (anticonvulsant items). Also, items A2121-A2122 will be removed …

Q&A: How do you set section GG discharge goals for a resident who is also receiving care for end of life? 

Question: How do you set section GG discharge goals for a resident who is also receiving care for end of life?  Answer from Jeff Taylor: Goals can include maintenance or even managed decline. This AAPACN resource is copyright protected. AAPACN individual members may download or print one copy for use …

Q&A: What is the consequence of a late MDS submission?

Question: What is the consequence of a late MDS submission? Answer from Jennifer LaBay RN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, QCP, CRC: There is no impact on Medicare payment if an MDS is submitted late. The facility could receive a survey citation, F-tag 640 (Encoding/Transmitting Resident Assessment), if late MDS submission is noted …