MDS Leadership

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Dec 01 2024
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What is an MDS Coordinator?

"What do you do for a living?" It may not surprise you that when asked this question, most MDS Coordinators struggle to come up with an answer. The reality is that MDS Coordinators fully understand what this multifaceted job entails, but are at a loss of how to put it into words for someone who isn’t out there doing it every day. This refresher on the basics of MDS Coordination should help answer that basic question quickly, completely, and in such a way that is easy to grasp.   What Does...
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From-the-MDS-to-RAI-System-Management
Nov 01 2024
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From the MDS to RAI System Management

With the introduction of the Minimum Data Set (MDS) through the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA) of 1987, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) implemented a method of standardized, comprehensive, and reproducible data collection for long term care residents that addressed medical conditions and functional status. This data collection tool has morphed into a means of reflecting long term care and rehab facility compliance with federal regulations, facility quality measures, resident...
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Section-GG
Apr 01 2024
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Section GG Documentation – Questions Still Abound

Section GG remains a popular discussion topic among the Nurse Assessment Coordinator (NAC) and other members of the interdisciplinary team (IDT). Many have questioned their own practices and processes, designed to support coding this section of the MDS. CMS states in its Participant Questions from the Skilled Nursing Facility MDS 3.0 RAI v1.18.11 Guidance Training Program (June 21, 2023 - current as of August 2023) that: While CMS does not impose specific documentation procedures on nursing...
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Jul 05 2023

What Is an MDS Coordinator?

It’s a bit odd that when asked what you do for a living most MDS coordinators struggle to come up with an answer. Who struggles to explain what they do every day? The reality is that MDS Coordinators fully understand what this multifaceted job entails, but are at a loss how to put it into words for someone who isn’t out there doing it every day. Being able to answer this question quickly, completely and in such a way that is easy to grasp has a lot of critical upsides. What does MDS Stand for?...
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May 13 2023
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MDS 2023 Countdown Wrap-Up

This post is part of the MDS 2023 Countdown series.  Disclaimer: Current as of May 13, 2023.   What You Can Expect to See CMS released the first MDS draft item set (v1.18.11) in September 2022, which generated many questions for the long-term care community. Both the final item sets and the draft MDS 3.0 v1.18.11 User's Manual were released in April 2023. The updated User's Manual includes updates to section intent, coding instructions, definitions, and tips - and totals nearly 400 more...
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Apr 06 2022
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Pulling the MDS nurse to the Floor

Pulling the MDS nurse Onto the Floor: Minimum Nursing Staffing Levels CMS is now showing consumers staff turnover and weekend staffing levels on Nursing Home Care CompareThese added metrics show families the history of staffing levels and staff retention for every nursing home facility and are key factors in assessing quality of care. The President's recent calling on nursing homes to improve their care outcomes has been in the news recently. The fact sheet from his February briefing stated...
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Jan 05 2017
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How Much Staff Do I Need for MDS?

We all know that a lot of time, energy and effort go into completing an MDS.  But how many hours should you really be spending? Factors to Consider in Calculating MDS Staffing Time What is your average LTC census per year? What is your average Rehab Census per year? What is your average LOS for Rehab residents? Current Benchmarks for MDS Nursing Hours per Resident These are some general benchmarks for the average number of MDS Nursing hours spent per resident on MDS Completions: Each LTC...
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Sep 05 2016
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One section at a time

Phil Brahm | Sept 5, 2016 | Excerpted from McKnights When it comes to the Minimum Data Set, accuracy can be the defining factor in whether a facility keeps its doors open, thrives or ends up facing federal indictment. Whether providers are looking to ensure they can afford to provide the proper care their residents need or to maintain a five-star quality rating, the information listed in the assessment form has lasting effects on all involved. Experts note that some sections are harder to...
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Recent Blogs in All Topics

Dec 01 2024
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What is an MDS Coordinator?

"What do you do for a living?" It may not surprise you that when asked this question, most MDS Coordinators struggle to come up with an answer. The reality is that MDS Coordinators fully understand what this multifaceted job entails, but are at a...
Keep Reading
Nov 01 2024
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From the MDS to RAI System Management

With the introduction of the Minimum Data Set (MDS) through the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA) of 1987, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) implemented a method of standardized, comprehensive, and reproducible data collection for long...
Keep Reading
Oct 01 2024

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...
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Sep 01 2024

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...
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Aug 01 2024
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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...
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Jul 01 2024
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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...
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Jun 01 2024
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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...
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May 01 2024
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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...
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Apr 01 2024
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Section GG Documentation – Questions Still Abound

Section GG remains a popular discussion topic among the Nurse Assessment Coordinator (NAC) and other members of the interdisciplinary team (IDT). Many have questioned their own practices and processes, designed to support coding this section of the...
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Mar 01 2024
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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...
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Feb 01 2024

Trauma and the MDS – A Sneak Peak

Trauma informed care has become an area of focus for Post Acute Care providers and survey agencies. Organizations are required to provide trauma-informed care that meets “professional standards of practice and accounting for residents’ experiences...
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Jan 01 2024

New Year….Same MDS Obstacle Course

As we ring in 2024, long term care professionals are still struggling to implement the October 2023 updates to the MDS. CMS is already talking about more changes in 2024, and the anticipation continues to create anxiety amongst PAC members. While...
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Dec 01 2023
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Schizophrenia Diagnosis Audits

On January 18th, 2023, CMS announced they will be conducting off-site audits in nursing homes for assessment accuracy and coding of residents with a diagnosis of Schizophrenia. Along with auditing for appropriate diagnosis, the audits will review...
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Nov 01 2023
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OSA or PDPM? A State-Level Decision

As of Oct. 1, 2023, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has retired the A0300 Optional State Assessment (OSA) from the federally required MDS 3.0 v1.18.11 that is submitted by nursing facilities. The OSA is now a separate...
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Oct 02 2023

The Physician and “I”

The physician’s role in the nursing facility is essential to delivering skilled, quality care for Skilled and Long-Term Care residents. Physicians are our lead in providing clinical decision making and properly defining, clarifying, and verifying...
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Oct 01 2023

Coding UTIs on the MDS 3.0

Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) are a commonly miscoded data element on the MDS. Are you over coding UTIs? Are you not coding them at all? Should you? Shouldn’t you? The MDS has historically left data collectors asking themselves these questions....
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Oct 01 2023
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Achieving Accurate ADLs with the OSA

Section G of the MDS 3.0 was retired October 1, 2023, yet the MDS nurse may still need to use the knowledge of accurately coding ADLs with an assessment called the Optional State Assessment (OSA).  State-Optioned OSA Although the option to choose...
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Jul 05 2023

What Is an MDS Coordinator?

It’s a bit odd that when asked what you do for a living most MDS coordinators struggle to come up with an answer. Who struggles to explain what they do every day? The reality is that MDS Coordinators fully understand what this multifaceted job...
Keep Reading
May 13 2023
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MDS 2023 Countdown Wrap-Up

This post is part of the MDS 2023 Countdown series.  Disclaimer: Current as of May 13, 2023.   What You Can Expect to See CMS released the first MDS draft item set (v1.18.11) in September 2022, which generated many questions for the long-term...
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May 13 2023
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Rx Reconciliation – New SNF QRP and QMs

This post is part of the MDS 2023 Countdown series.  Disclaimer. Current as of October 1, 2023 What You Can Expect to See The reconciled medication list will have a new documentation requirement that will go into effect with the October 1, 2023...
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May 13 2023
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Away with Q0300 and in with Q0310 – New Section Q Changes

This post is part of the MDS 2023 Countdown series.  Disclaimer. Current as of May 13, 2023 What You Can Expect to See This new Section Q update presents a key change to the wording: GOAL vs expectation. The Cambridge American Dictionary defines...
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Apr 08 2023
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Updated Entered From and Discharge Status options

This post is part of the MDS 2023 Countdown series.  Disclaimer. Current as of October 1, 2023 Section A1800 "Entered From" and A2100 "Discharged Status" have Changed One of the changes you will see when coding section A of the MDS this October 1,...
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Apr 01 2023
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Transportation – New Item A1250

This post is part of the MDS 2023 Countdown series.  Disclaimer. Current as of October 1, 2023 What You Can Expect to See An additional item we will see in the upcoming MDS 3.0 v.1.18.11 in October 2023 is A1250 - Transportation. This is included...
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Mar 24 2023
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New 3-day Lookbacks | Assessment Periods

This post is part of the MDS 2023 Countdown series.  Disclaimer. Current as of March 24, 2023 What You Can Expect to See New 3-day lookback/assessment periods are coming to the MDS world. There are different sections of the MDS that the Nurse...
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Feb 22 2023
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New Pain Interview in Section J

This post is part of the MDS 2023 Countdown series.  Disclaimer. Current as of February 22, 2023 What You Can Expect to See The most noticeable changes to Section J are evident in the pain interview, specifically questions J0510, J0520 and J0530....
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Feb 15 2023
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Section B – Hearing, Speech and Vision Changes

This post is part of the MDS 2023 Countdown series.  Disclaimer. Current as of October 1, 2023 What You Can Expect to See Section B on the MDS is a component of the Standardized Patient Assessment Data Elements (SPADEs), which is utilized across...
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Feb 07 2023
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Race and Ethnicity – Changes in Section A

This post is part of the MDS 2023 Countdown series.  Disclaimer. Current as of October 1, 2023 What You Can Expect to See Section A, Identification Information for Race/Ethnicity has expanded. One of the major changes is the deletion of section...
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Dec 23 2022
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The New Section N: Use and Indication of High-risk Drug Classes

This post is part of the MDS 2023 Countdown series.  Disclaimer. Current as of December 23, 2022 WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT TO SEE We will see changes in Section N of the MDS 3.0 effective on October 1, 2023.  Section N0410 (Medications Received) has been...
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Dec 16 2022
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Where did Physician Examinations and Orders Go?

This post is part of the MDS 2023 Countdown series.  Disclaimer. Current as of December 16, 2023 WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT TO SEE CMS does not require the completion of the physician examinations and orders, but they remain a requirement for some states...
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Dec 09 2022
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What’s New in Section O – Special Treatments, Procedures, Programs?

This post is part of the MDS 2023 Countdown series.  Disclaimer. Current as of December 9, 2023 WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT TO SEE What is Changing with Section O? When you first look at the draft of section O item O0110 special treatments, procedures, and...
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