News for MDS Experts
Check out our insightful articles and current social feed of news that’s important to MDS Coordinators.
Our Latest Articles
Medicaid PDPM Is Coming: What Skilled Nursing Facilities Need to Know
Beginning October 1, 2025, many nursing homes will adopt a new reimbursement model for Medicaid residents: the Patient-Driven Payment Model, or Medicaid PDPM. While PDPM has been in place for...
The Facility Assessment and Emergency Management Planning: The MDS Plays a Big Role
What is the MDS Role in the Facility Assessment? F838 in the State Operations Manual (SOM) provides specific information for developing a Facility Assessment that must be reviewed and updated...
MDS Nutrition – Not Limited to Section K
Often Section K on the MDS, associated CAAs, and care planning are relegated to the dietician to worry about. However, when we look at a comprehensive MDS, we can see that the information in Section...
𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗥𝗔𝗖-𝗖𝗧® 𝗖𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆’𝘀 𝗟𝗧𝗖 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗲
Did you know? Facilities with RAC-CT®-certified MDS Coordinators are more likely to:
✅ Capture accurate reimbursement under PDPM
✅ Avoid costly documentation errors
✅ Improve care planning and IDT alignment
✅ Strengthen audit readiness and compliance
In a world of evolving regulations and staffing challenges, investing in RAC-CT training isn’t just smart—it’s essential.
🎓 Join our upcoming in-person RAC-CT® Workshop
📍 Rochester, NY | 🗓️ October 7–9, 2025 | 🕘 8:00 AM–5:00 PM
Hosted by AAPACN and led by certified instructors from MDS Consultants.
📌 Cancellation Policy (AAPACN Standard):
Cancellations must be submitted via email to workshops@AAPACN.org
30 business days before start date: Full refund
14–30 business days: Full refund minus $250 fee
<13 business days: No refund unless emergency or survey
Substitutions are allowed
🚨 Ready to strengthen your MDS team?
👉 Register now: cstu.io/f258d7
#RACCT #MDSCoordinators #PDPM #SkilledNursing #LongTermCare #NursingLeadership #HealthcareTraining #MDSConsultants #LTCCompliance ... See MoreSee Less
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Is your Medical Director in your facility up to date with the new Survey Regulations? Survey Updates Drive Changes, Challenges for Medical Directors in Nursing Homes, a Skilled Nursing News article by Amy Stulick provides an inclusive look at the Medical Director's role in Post Acute Care.
cstu.io/2121d2
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📣 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗥𝗼𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿, 𝗦𝘆𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘂𝘀𝗲, 𝗕𝘂𝗳𝗳𝗮𝗹𝗼 & 𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗡𝗬!
𝗥𝗔𝗖-𝗖𝗧® 𝗖𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽 – 𝗜𝗻 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻
Hosted by MDS Consultants
📍 St. Ann’s Community
1500 Portland Ave, Rochester, NY 14621
🗓️ October 7–9, 2025
🕘 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Eastern Time)
𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱?
If you work in long-term care in Rochester, Syracuse, Buffalo, or the surrounding region, this is your opportunity to get RAC-CT® certified locally!
Join our in-person RAC-CT® workshop and build the expertise your facility needs in MDS 3.0, PDPM, and care planning compliance.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗱?
✔️ Three days of live, instructor-led training
✔️ Access to the 10 RAC-CT certification exams (must pass with 80% or higher)
✔️ Connect with local colleagues and industry leaders
✔️ Real-time guidance and Q&A with AAPACN-certified educators
𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆 (𝗔𝗔𝗣𝗔𝗖𝗡 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗱):
- Cancellations must be submitted via email to workshops@AAPACN.org.
- More than 30 business days before the start date: Full refund
- 14–30 business days before the start date: Full refund minus a $250 processing fee
- Less than 13 business days before the start date: No refunds, unless due to emergency or State Surveyor visit
- No weather-related refunds unless the workshop is canceled
- Substitutions are allowed—a colleague may attend in your place.
🚨 Ready to Register?
Secure your spot today at:
👉www.AAPACN.org
For questions, call MDS Consultants at (954) MDS-3-ADL. ... See MoreSee Less
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🔍 Did you know?
Nutrition-related data appears in over 15 sections of the MDS, not just Section K.
From weight trends (K0300) to wound healing (M), medication side effects (N), and even mood (D) or mobility (GG), your nutrition picture is more complex than a single checkbox.
Missing or inaccurate documentation in these areas can affect:
• Reimbursement
• Care quality
• Survey outcomes
• Resident outcomes
💡 Our latest AAPACN-published article, “MDS Nutrition Is Not Limited to Section K,” breaks it all down—and shows how the entire IDT plays a role.
👉 Read it here: cstu.io/858659
✅ Then share with your team or care planning committee, it’s a must-read for MDS Coordinators, DONs, dietitians, and QA teams.
#MDSConsultants #LongTermCare #MDSCoding #PDPM #NursingHomeCompliance #InterdisciplinaryCare #Nutrition #CarePlanning #AAPACN #LTCProfessionals ... See MoreSee Less
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📣 𝗪𝗲'𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗡𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘀𝗸𝗮!
Join us at the Nebraska Health Care Association 2025 Annual Convention where three of our very own powerhouse educators will be speaking on critical long-term care topics you won’t want to miss.
𝗙𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀:
Jessica Stucin, RN, BSN, LNHA, RAC-MT, RAC-CTA, QCP
Barb Bates, RN, RAC-MT
Kristine Martinez, RN, BSN, RAC-CT
𝗦𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗲-𝗨𝗽:
- Top 10 Nursing Facility Deficiencies and Tips to Mitigate
Tuesday, August 26 | 🕙 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
-QAPI and MDS Accuracy
Tuesday, August 26 | 🕑 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM
-Alert! High-Risk Medications: What to Know and What to Monitor
Wednesday, August 27 | 🕑 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
✨ Come learn, connect, and elevate your care practices with the MDS Consultants team. We can’t wait to see you there!
#MDSConsultants #NHCA2025 #LTCCompliance #QAPI #HighRiskMeds #MDSAccuracy #LongTermCareEducation ... See MoreSee Less
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The July update of Appendix B to the MDS 3.0 RAI User’s Manual contains changes to the list of State RAI Coordinators, MDS Automation Coordinators, and CMS locations and contacts.
cstu.io/b4f7d7
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🌴 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗠𝗗𝗦 𝗖𝗼𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗮 𝗩𝗮𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻… 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗠𝗗𝗦 𝗗𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗖𝗮𝗻’𝘁 𝗪𝗮𝗶𝘁!
When your MDS Coordinator takes time off, the work still has to get done, and that’s where we come in.
MDS Consultants provides short-term and vacation coverage to keep your facility compliant, accurate, and on schedule. From assessments to audits, our experienced team can step in seamlessly, so nothing falls through the cracks.
✅ No delays in submissions
✅ Accurate coding and documentation
✅ Peace of mind for your team
Coordinator going on vacation soon? Let’s plan ahead.
Contact us today to secure your coverage.
#MDSConsultants #LongTermCare #SkilledNursing #MDSCoverage #VacationCoverage #Compliance #PDPM ... See MoreSee Less
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🎉 𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗠𝗗𝗦 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀!
As we wrap up another productive week, here’s a quick tip for facilities:
When your team’s processes run smoothly, residents feel the difference, and so does your bottom line.
That’s why we’re passionate about helping facilities strengthen accuracy, compliance, and team alignment.
Big changes are coming to long-term care reimbursement in 2025.
In one word, how ready do you feel? (Be honest!)
Wishing you a weekend full of rest, good coffee, and zero unread emails.
#HappyFriday #LongTermCare #SeniorCare #MDSConsultants #Teamwork #PDPM #HealthcareLeadership ... See MoreSee Less
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