7 Baseline Care Plan Myths

by | Jan 24, 2019 | CAA & Care Plans, In the News

Explore More Posts from MDS Consultants

By Caralyn Davis | Jan. 24, 2018 | Excerpted from: AANAC

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 the State Operations Manual.

Here are seven common myths that need to be vanquished:

Myth: The resident needs to sign the baseline care plan

The baseline care plan does not need to be signed by the resident, states Melanie Tribe-Scott, RN, RAC-MT, QCP, director of clinical reimbursement for Health Concepts in Providence, RI. “Many NACs appear to be confusing the baseline care plan requirements under F655 with the interpretive guidance for F553 (Right to Participate in Planning Care).”

F553 says that the resident has the right to see the care plan, including the right to sign (should they choose to) after significant changes are made to the care plan, she notes. “The intent of that regulation is to ensure that facility staff include the resident or their representative in all the aspects of person-centered care planning. This is in reference to the comprehensive care plan.”

Continue reading

Explore More Posts from MDS Consultants

Reimbursement Concerns

Maximizing Case Mix with Special Programs: Respiratory Therapy and Restorative Nursing

Case mix is essential in skilled nursing facilities as it impacts both reimbursement and the care provided. Two key programs that significantly impact case mix scores when properly implemented and documented are Respiratory Therapy and Restorative Nursing. Both...

Strategic Admissions: The Path to Optimized Medicaid Reimbursement

Medicaid reimbursement plays a significant role in the financial health of long-term care facilities, particularly those serving a high percentage of Medicaid residents. While it may not be the sole source of revenue, it is an important component that supports the...

Interim Payment Assessment (IPA) – To do or not to do?

The Patient-Driven Payment Model took effect in October of 2019. Along with this change came the optional IPA. We are now five years into this change and questions still arise on when to complete an IPA. The decision of when to complete lies with the team at the...

Resident Interviews – What are you doing to capture the data?

Effective October 1, 2023, several resident interviews were added to or updated on the MDS. Interview items in Section A and changes to the interviews in Section D, J, and Q have been implemented. Each of the interviews can be a great steppingstone in your path to...

Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) – A Global Initiative Important to Skilled Nursing Providers

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Office of Mental Health report CMS Framework for Health Equity 2022 and 2032 states that health equity is defined by the attainment of the highest level of health for all people, where everyone has a fair and...

Read more on Toolbox Essentials

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...

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,...

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...

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. ...

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...

MORE from MDS Experts

Strategic Admissions: The Path to Optimized Medicaid Reimbursement

Medicaid reimbursement plays a significant role in the financial health of long-term care facilities, particularly those serving a high percentage of Medicaid residents. While it may not be the sole source of revenue, it is an important component that supports the...

Internet Quality Improvement and Evaluation System (iQIES): A New Age

Just when we thought we had a handle on QIES (Quality Improvement and Evaluation System), the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) transitioned to the Internet Quality Improvement and Evaluation System (iQIES) in 2023.   Reports and Roles Reports...

A Significant Change in Status Assessment – There are Options

The Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) system includes a significant change in status assessment (SCSA). What might be forgotten is the State Operation Manual (SOM), Appendix PP, includes information that mirrors the RAI manual at 42 CFR §483.20(b)(2)(ii), F637 -...

Interim Payment Assessment (IPA) – To do or not to do?

The Patient-Driven Payment Model took effect in October of 2019. Along with this change came the optional IPA. We are now five years into this change and questions still arise on when to complete an IPA. The decision of when to complete lies with the team at the...

Resident Interviews – What are you doing to capture the data?

Effective October 1, 2023, several resident interviews were added to or updated on the MDS. Interview items in Section A and changes to the interviews in Section D, J, and Q have been implemented. Each of the interviews can be a great steppingstone in your path to...