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 …
Question: Do I need to complete discharge assessments for an emergency evacuation? Answer from Carol Maher, RN, GERO-BC, RAC-MTA, RAC-MT, CPC: You may not be required to complete the discharge MDS in this situation. Here is a link to the all-cause waiver information: https://www.cms.gov/About-CMS/Agency-Information/Emergency/Downloads/Provider-Survey-and-Certification-Frequently-Asked-Questions.pdf. Review the SNF information and watch …
Question: What are the correct dates for flu season and pneumonia vaccines for MDS purposes to count if present during that time? Answer from Jennifer LaBay RN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, QCP, CRC: The influenza vaccine question O0250 is asking if the vaccine was delivered in your facility during the current flu …
From MLN Connects eNews: CMS will relaunch the Program for Evaluating Payment Patterns Electronic Report (PEPPER) in the coming months for all Medicare facility types, including hospitals, post-acute care providers, and specialty facilities. PEPPER is a free tool that helps you review your Medicare billing data so you can identify …
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated the “Staying Up to Date with COVID-19 Vaccines” guidance several times since requiring COVID-19 vaccinations to be coded on the MDS as of October 2024. Facility teams can track these changes by using AAPACN’s COVID-19 Vaccine “Up to Date” Guidance …
Starting Oct. 1, 2024, additional supporting documentation is required to capture a diagnosis of sepsis at I2100, Septicemia on the MDS. Nurse assessment coordinators can use the AAPACN Sepsis: Nurse Documentation Training Aid to provide guidance to nurses on assessment and documentation needs when a resident is diagnosed with sepsis. …
Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element. The OBRA Significant Correction to Prior Assessment (SCPA), which includes the Significant Correction to Prior Quarterly Assessment and the Significant Correction to Prior Comprehensive Assessment, is one of the most misunderstood parts of the Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) …
Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element. As summer approaches, many people begin thinking about health goals, wellness check-ins, and how to prepare for more outdoor activities in the warmer months. In the long-term care ICD-10 realm, preparation takes a different form: ensuring documentation and …
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) previously announced in March that the updated Advance Beneficiary Notice of Noncoverage (ABN), Form CMS-R-131, was now available, but extended implementation to no later than May 12, 2026. While providers could continue using the previous version through May 11, 2026, facilities should …
The AAPACN ICD-10-CM Coding Decision Tool: Obesity and BMI Reporting helps long-term care staff accurately determine when BMI and obesity-related ICD-10-CM codes can be reported while ensuring compliance with provider documentation requirements. This tool guides users through coding decisions, clarifies the Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM) non-therapy ancillary (NTA) point impacts, …
