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Schizophrenia Diagnosis Audits
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 appropriate use of antipsychotic medications.  What does this mean for nursing facilities? CMS utilizes data regarding the use of antipsychotic medications in the Five-Star Quality Rating System. A diagnosis of schizophrenia excludes the residents...
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Nov 04 2022
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Pillars of Care

Reviewing the Behavioral Health Pillars The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) developed a roadmap for behavioral health integration to address a national mental health crisis.  The current Administration's strategy is based on three core pillars: 1. Strengthen System Capacity 2. Connect Americans to Care3. Support Americans by Creating Healthy Environments While the HHS Roadmap does not specifically address Skilled Nursing Facilities, it requires efforts throughout the...
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Jan 10 2021
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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, you are issued several citations and the state is requiring the facility to institute a Directed Plan of Care (DPOC). What should you do now? I recently discussed this question with Barbara Bates, RN, MSN, RAC-CT, QCP-MT, DNS-MT...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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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