By Sandra Rich, RN | SVP of Clinical Reimbursement, Limitlessli If you coordinate MDS assessments in a skilled nursing facility, you already know the Discharge Function Score is one of the most consequential measurements you’ll capture. It influences your facility’s Quality Reporting Program performance and ultimately how your facility is …
Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element. The ability to identify and act upon potential or actual clinically significant medication issues drives the coding of N2001 (Drug Regimen Review) and its companion item N2003 (Medication Follow-Up) on the PPS 5-Day MDS, as well as N2005 …
Question: If a resident revokes hospice services, does the ARD need to be scheduled to avoid coding hospice in O0110K? Answer from Carol Maher, RN, GERO-BC, RAC-MTA, RAC-MT, CPC: The Significant Change in Status Assessment (SCSA) to come off hospice must be completed within 14 days of the end of …
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released a one-page resource to help providers determine when an OBRA Discharge assessment is required under the MDS 3.0 RAI User’s Manual. The fact sheet outlines key discharge criteria, including hospital admissions, observation stays greater than 24 hours, and discharges to …
The Dementia Physician Query tool supports accurate clinical documentation by helping providers clarify the type, severity, and associated manifestations of a resident’s dementia diagnosis using information documented in the medical record. The tool also allows providers to identify when diagnostic details, including dementia type, severity, or behavioral manifestations, are unknown …
The October 1, 2026 diagnosis code update files are now available. Use these files for discharges occurring from October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027 and for patient encounters occurring from October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027. The 2027 ICD-10-CM & PCS files section below contains information on the …
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is offering a one-page resource that clarifies when an OBRA Discharge assessment is required under the MDS 3.0 RAI User’s Manual (Chapter 2). This resource outlines the primary discharge criteria, including hospital admissions, observation stays greater than 24 hours, and discharges to other care …
In this LTC NAC Chat podcast episode, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Jennifer LaBay, RN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, CRC, curriculum development specialist with AAPACN, discuss getting to know your Medicare Administrative Contractor. Additional Resources:
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Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element. In the complex world of Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessment scheduling, discharge scenarios can often confuse even experienced interdisciplinary team (IDT) members. When a resident’s stay changes, due to either leaving the facility or a shift in payer …
Question: Please clarify when resident interviews need to be completed for the MDS? Answer from Scott Heichel RN, RAC-MT, RAC-CTA, DNS-CT, QCP, ICC, IPCO: All resident interviews, including the Customary Routine/Activities, BIMS, PHQ-2 to 9, and Pain, must be completed in the 7-day look-back window of the MDS. Any non-interview …
