News for MDS Experts
Check out our insightful articles and current social feed of news that’s important to MDS Coordinators.
Our Latest Articles
How the MDS is Utilized During the Survey Process
Have you ever wondered how the survey team determines which residents they will focus on during a standard survey in the skilled nursing facility/long term care facility (SNF/LTC)? The answers...
Fall MDS Updates are Here!
October 1 is typically when the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) institutes changes to the Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) and Minimum Data Set (MDS) – and this year is no...
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...
𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟭𝟭, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱- 𝗨𝗽𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗡𝗙 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝘁𝘀: 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁
CMS is launching SNF Validation Program audits this fall to verify the accuracy of MDS coding used in QRP and VBP.
𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝘂𝗱𝗶𝘁-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆?
Whether you're an MDS Coordinator, Administrator, DON, or part of the IDT—this session breaks down what's coming, what’s being audited, and how to prepare.
𝗜𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗹𝗹 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻:
- How the SNF Validation Program works
- Which MDS data elements will be under scrutiny
- How to prepare your facility for compliance
🎓 Presented by:
Jessica Stucin, RN, BSN, LNHA, RAC-MT, RAC-CT, RAC-CTA, QCP
Kristine Martinez, RN, BSN, DNS-CT, RAC-CT, RAC-CTA, QCP
Secure your seat and get ahead of the audit curve.
👉https://www.mdsexpert.com/webinars-training/
#MDS #PDPM #SNFAudits #CMSCompliance #SkilledNursing #LongTermCare #QRP #VBP #CMSAudits ... See MoreSee Less
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𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗟𝗧𝗖 𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀! 🎉
We smoothed a few things and made the week a little lighter. If your MDS list is still stacked, we’re here to pitch in, we can start on Monday.
➡️www.mds-consultants.com/?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=contentstudio.io
#LongTermCare #SNF #MDS #RAI #Compliance #PDPM #CMI! ... See MoreSee Less
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𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆! 🎤
MDS Consultants’ Kristine Martinez, RN, BSN, DNS-CT, RAC-CT, RAC-CTA, QCP and Barb Bates, RN, RAC-CT will present Part 1 of Session #7: Latest CMS Updates & Guidance at the Mid-Atlantic Society of Post-Acute & LTC Medicine conference on 11/8/2025.
If you’re attending, come say hello and catch the freshest CMS updates affecting SNFs.
#LTC #SNF #PostAcute #CMS #MDS #Compliance #SurveyReadiness #MMDA2025 ... See MoreSee Less
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𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝗣𝗗𝗣𝗠 & 𝗖𝗠𝗜: 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗰𝗼𝗽𝗲
McKnight’s reports that as states adopt PDPM-style case-mix, auditors are looking more closely at how MDS items drive rates. Some states use PDPM Nursing only, others add NTA, and different calculation cadences (day-weighted/monthly/quarterly) mean issues can surface late.
📖 Read the article: www.mcknights.com/news/converting-to-case-mix-payment-models-triggers-new-state-audits-of-nursing...
𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗶𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀:
• Tight, audit-ready documentation is now a revenue safeguard
• ARD discipline, Dx specificity, and GG consistency are high impact
• State-specific rules change what counts and when
If you’d like to talk through state nuances or sanity-check your current CMI process, DM us!
#MDS #SNF #LTC #Medicaid #PDPM #CMI #Compliance ... See MoreSee Less
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𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟭𝟭, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱- 𝗨𝗽𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗡𝗙 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝘁𝘀: 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁
CMS is launching SNF Validation Program audits this fall to verify the accuracy of MDS coding used in QRP and VBP.
𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝘂𝗱𝗶𝘁-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆?
Whether you're an MDS Coordinator, Administrator, DON, or part of the IDT—this session breaks down what's coming, what’s being audited, and how to prepare.
𝗜𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗹𝗹 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻:
- How the SNF Validation Program works
- Which MDS data elements will be under scrutiny
- How to prepare your facility for compliance
🎓 Presented by:
Jessica Stucin, RN, BSN, LNHA, RAC-MT, RAC-CT, RAC-CTA, QCP
Kristine Martinez, RN, BSN, DNS-CT, RAC-CT, RAC-CTA, QCP
Secure your seat and get ahead of the audit curve.
👉https://www.mdsexpert.com/webinars-training/
#MDS #PDPM #SNFAudits #CMSCompliance #SkilledNursing #LongTermCare #QRP #VBP #CMSAudits ... See MoreSee Less
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𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗛𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗠𝗗𝗦 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀! 🎃
No tricks—just compliance treats for your team today:
• RAI accuracy: if it’s not documented, it’s not coded 👻
• GG sanity scan: do scores match nursing/therapy notes?
• Dx specificity: right ICD-10 = right clinical category
• Timing traps: A1600 + interviews + ARD aligned
Need backup on the scary stuff? We’re here to help →https://www.mds-consultants.com/sign-up/
#LTC #SNF #MDS #Compliance #QAPI #SurveyReadiness #PDPM ... See MoreSee Less
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𝗜𝗖𝗗-𝟭𝟬 𝗰𝗼𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗜 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗗𝗦!
Your diagnosis codes also impact:
➡️Section J – Pain management
➡️ Section GG – Functional scoring & PDPM case-mix
➡️ Section O – Validates special treatments
Accurate ICD-10 coding = accurate reimbursement & care planning.
𝗜𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗰𝗼𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗶𝗴 𝗽𝗶𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱?
Let us help you sharpen your strategy.
#ICD10 #MDSCoding #PDPM #SkilledNursing #LongTermCare #NursingLeadership #MDSConsultants #MDSAccuracy #LTCCompliance ... See MoreSee Less
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Tuesday Tip: Myth vs. Reality—3 fast ways to stop MDS miscoding from haunting your survey.
✅ Timely, discipline-appropriate documentation
✅ Dx specificity + function drive categories
✅ GG is an IDT responsibility
#MDS #SNF #LTC #compliance #qapi #PDPM ... See MoreSee Less
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🎃 Ghost Stories: The Haunting Tales of MDS Miscoding — Members-Only Replay
𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝘁 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲?
The replay is exclusive to MDS Consultants members. In this session, we cover why MDS accuracy is a regulatory requirement and how miscoding can trigger citations beyond the assessment—care plans, quality of care, even behavioral health—escalating to civil penalties or immediate jeopardy.
𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼:
• Understand RAI requirements and keep assessments accurate
• Spot frequently identified MDS errors and their impact on residents/facilities
• Apply practical strategies to prevent and mitigate miscoding to protect data integrity & compliance
Trainer: Kristine Martinez, RN, BSN, DNS-CT, RAC-CT, RAC-CTA, QCP
Who should attend: Administrators, Regional Directors, DONs, NACs/MDS Coordinators, and the IDT
Not a member? Upgrade to unlock this replay and all member benefits.
✨ Join now →https://www.mdsexpert.com/membership/
#MDS #SNF #LTC #PDPM #MedicaidPDPM #QAPI #Compliance #SurveyReadiness #NurseLeaders ... See MoreSee Less
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