Advanced Search

MDS Alert

Medicare Reimbursement:
Medical Reviews of Medicare Outpatient Therapy Claims Will Continue in the New Year
Don’t expect MACs to cease reviews while awaiting further Congressional actio... Read more
Section H:
Abolish Incontinence Assessment, Coding Woes Before You Face a Surveyor
Cover these bases under revised F315 guidelines. Urinary incontinence will always be t... Read more
Quality Improvement:
Ensure Your Urinary Incontinence QIs Are Free From Error
Check out this facility’s quality improvement approach. If you’re looking ... Read more
Compliance:
Address Warning Messages From Validation Reports to Avoid Future Errors
Don’t let these problems escape your RAI compliance radar. Validation reports ca... Read more
Hiring:
3 Tips Help You Choose the Most Effective MDS Nurse Candidate
Give the potential new hire a mock sample QI/QM report. Hiring an MDS nurse is an expe... Read more
MDS Nursing Skills:
4 Critical Skills MDS Nurses Must Possess For Success
Experts share inside secrets to mastering a demanding role. The MDS coordinator doesn&... Read more
What Do You Think?
The following Q&As have been provided courtesy of Marilyn Mines, RN, BSN, RAC-CT, BC... Read more
Stress Buster:
5 Tips Alleviate Your Stress This Holiday Season
Get into the spirit of giving -- without undue stress on your psyche or your wallet. T... Read more
Staffing Tips:
Combat Your Co-workers' Chronic Negativity
Here’s what you can do to help your team’s unconstructive members develop a ... Read more
Risk Management:
Protect Your Facility From Potential Pressure Ulcer Lawsuits
Follow these simple tips to ward off liability.It can be extremely difficult to defend you... Read more
Compliance:
Steer Clear of Noncompliance Citations for F314 Pressure Sores
Make sure you are following the SOM requirements at §483.25(c).The Medicare State Operati... Read more
Quality of Care:
4 Pieces of Advice Will Prop Up Your ADL Care Safety
Don't overlook these triggers for revisiting how much help a resident needs.Your facility ... Read more
Clinical Round Up:
Educate Your Staff, Patients About Additional Smoking Hazards
Smoking is not simply injurious to health -- it can impair your memory, the researche... Read more
Tool:
5 Scenarios Pick Apart Your Staff's Pain Assessment Skills
Hint: Some residents won't tell you about pain out of fear.Would these scenarios trigger c... Read more
Patient Privacy:
Know The Risks Of Pinched Medical IDs
Watch for insider breaches and human error, advise experts.All healthcare -- nursing ... Read more
Infection Control:
Snuff Out Sniffles During Cold & Flu Season
Follow these preventive measures to combat germ-sharing in your facility.As you can probab... Read more
Staffing Tip:
Get Creative And Release Your Inner 'Yes' Person
Saying "no" can keep you from succeeding, but "yes" can take you closer to achievement.You... Read more
Staffing Strategies:
Manage Your Boss In 4 Simple Steps
"Managing upwards" is not manipulation--it's cultivating a productive relationship so ever... Read more
What Do You Think?
The following Q&As have been provided courtesy of Marilyn Mines, RN, BSN, RAC-CT, BC, ... Read more
MDS News to Use
CMSissued blanket waivers in response to Hurricane Sandy. These waive certain requirements... Read more
MDS 3.0 Refresher:
7 Categories Break Down MDS Functions
Look to MDS 3.0 to bridge hospice-nursing facility services. At the core of strong wo... Read more
Survey Focus:
Defensive Documentation: Improve Care -- And Survey Outcomes -- With Stellar Medical Records
Keep these 3 sources of information front and center.If your facility has had one citation... Read more
Tool:
10 Rules for Defensive Documentation
Have a purpose to your entry.Be descriptive.Be concise and precise.Don't leave the next re... Read more
What Do You Think?:
What Do You Think?:
The following Q&As have been provided courtesy of Marilyn Mines, RN, BSN, RAC-CT, BC, ... Read more
Resident Relations:
Lose The Lingo When Chatting With Residents
Using industry lingo means you're leaving a lot of information to interpretation.Every ind... Read more
Staffing:
Offer Your Co-worker Support In Her Time Of Need
Show your co-worker that you really care with these tips.You can spend much time worrying ... Read more
Compliance:
Know the RAI Manual Definitions for Stage 1 Pressure Ulcers
The RAI User's Manual includes the following definitions:"STAGE 1 PRESSURE ULCER: An obser... Read more
Industry News:
SNF Relationships Feature On Feds' Hospice Compliance Radar
Plus: Medicare may prorate hospitals' payment for patients transferred to hospice.The HHS ... Read more
Medicare Reimbursement:
Ready or Not -- Here Comes the Manual Medical Review of Medicare Outpatient Therapy Claims
Providers dodge snafus with CMS' NPI assignments.Scrambling to prepare for CMS' new take o... Read more
Risk Management:
Reduce Your Facility's Litigation and Liability Exposure
Learn from others' mistakes, successes to stay out of trouble.Time and again providers ope... Read more
Practice Pointers:
Nail Down Therapy Cap Details With This Q&A
Resolve your queries about therapy evals, appeals and more.More information leads to more ... Read more
Risk Management:
Falls are Inevitable But Losing a Falls Case Doesn't Have to Be
Follow these tips to ward off potential liability following a resident fall.More than half... Read more
Surveyor's Definition of Fall:
Surveyor's Definition of Fall:
"Fall refers to unintentionally coming to rest on the ground, floor, or other lower level,... Read more
Compliance:
When Does CMS Consider Bed Rails To Be Restraints?
Check out the SOM definition before coding the MDS.Even though the use of bed rails may im... Read more
Surveyor's Definition of Physical Restraints:
Surveyor's Definition of Physical Restraints:
"Any manual method or physical or mechanical device, material or equipment attached or adj... Read more
Coding Quizzer:
Do You Know When Wandering Puts Your Residents at Risk?
Test your knowledge of how to code these RAI scenarios.Wandering may be a pursuit of exerc... Read more
Coding Quizzer Answers:
How Did You Code The MDS Wandering Examples?
Check your coding skills against the answers in the RAI manual.RAIScenario #1: Wandering t... Read more
Quality of Care:
Improve Fall Prevention and Resident Outcomes With This Step-By-Step Program
Implement the updated Clinical Practice Guideline for Falls to reduce your risks.Resident ... Read more
Compliance:
Ready? Set? Evacuate!
Review this check-list to make sure your facility's emergency preparedness plan is up to s... Read more
Resources:
A Public Health Emergency Has Been Declared in My Area; Now What?
CMS answers your most pressing emergency MDS and Medicare billing questions You've weather... Read more
Coding Quizzer:
Try Your Hand at Coding These MDS Falls Examples
Put your skills to the test with these RAI patient scenarios.Steps for AssessmentThe perio... Read more
Coding Quizzer Answers:
How Did You Code The MDS Falls Examples?
Check your coding results against the answers in the RAI manual.J1700A,B,C: Fall History o... Read more
Definitions:
FALL
Unintentional change in position coming to rest on the ground, floor or onto the next lowe... Read more
Definitions:
FRACTURE RELATEATED TO A FALL
Any documented bone fracture (in a problem list from a medical record, an x-ray report, or... Read more
CMS News to Use:
Make Sure You Keep on Top of the Latest MDS Updates
Check out these CMS and Medicare payment developments.Updated MDS3.0 QM User's ManualNursi... Read more
Staff education:
Getting Your Staff to Implement the Falls CPG in Your Facility
Follow these four steps to success.Just like the Clinical Practice Guideline for Falls in ... Read more
Resident care:
Key Strategies to Help Your Staff Survive Difficult Residents
Improve clinical care and boost morale by following the advice of a SNF medical director a... Read more
Resource:
Check Out These Slides to Increase Your Understanding of Personality Disorders
Care plan example:Problem: Resident pushes the call light every few minutes to hear a voic... Read more
Coding Quizzer:
How Would You Code These MDS Section E Behavior Examples?
Hone your coding skills with these RAI patient scenariosE0100: Potential Indicators of Psy... Read more
Coding Quizzer Answers:
How Would You Code These MDS Section E Behavior Examples?
E0100: Potential Indicators of PsychosisRAI Scenario No. 1: The resident believes the doll... Read more
Therapy Coding:
CMS Officials Answer Your 5 Top Therapy Coding Questions
Check out the latest guidance on when and how to complete SOTs, EOTs & COTs.Providers ... Read more
CMS Quality initiative:
Cut Down on the Unnecessary Use of Antipsychotic Drugs
Follow these suggestions to be prepared for increased CMS scrutiny.Get ready for CMS to be... Read more
RAI Compliance:
To Complete a COT or an SCSA? That is the Question
Follow these instructions to always get it right.Knowing which Medicare assessment to comp... Read more
SCSA Examples:
SCSA Examples:
1. Mr. T no longer responds to verbal requests to alter his screaming behavior. It now occ... Read more
CMS Resources:
Providers Should Ask Their State RAI Coordinators, FIs and MACs First
But be proactive about going to CMS with unresolved questions.In order to ensure that prov... Read more
Coding Quizzer:
How Would You Code This O0400 Therapy Example?
Test your knowledge of the April 2012 RAI changes.General Therapy Coding Example:Following... Read more
Tools:
Tips for Managing Dementia Without Drugs
Follow these suggestions from the Alzheimer's Association."Steps to developing successful ... Read more
RAI Compliance:
Take The Pain Out of Pain Management by Conducting Better Resident Interviews
Use 4 critical questions to hone your skills during the J0300-J0600 Pain Assessment Inter... Read more
RAI Compliance:
What If a Resident Cannot Be Interviewed?
Staff will have to assess the presence/frequency of pain if a resident cannot be understo... Read more
Coding Quizzer:
How Would You Code These Pain Assessment Interview (J0300-J0600) Examples?
J0300 Pain Presence (5-Day Look Back) RAI Manual Coding Instructions: "Code for the prese... Read more
Coding Quizzer:
How Would You Code These Staff-Assessed Indicators of Pain (J0800-J0850) Examples?
J0800 Indicators of Pain (5-Day Look Back) RAI Manual Coding Instructions: "Check all tha... Read more
SNFs:
Look Out: SNF Intensive Therapy Gets MedPAC's Scrutiny
RUG rebasing and a revised PPS may be just around the corner. As if adjusting to the fina... Read more
Medicare Part B:
Therapy Caps Exceptions Get Legislative Boost
Hospitals to play a key part starting in October. Therapy cap exceptions, as well as the... Read more
Coding Procedures:
Include 6 Essential Components for a Top-Notch Dx Coding Policy
Try a self-audit to prevent costly coding errors. Creating an ICD-9 coding policy can he... Read more
Audits:
This MAC Shares the Dirt on 4 Common Audit Types
Chinese restaurant menu didn't cut it as documentation for one hospital. Does it sometime... Read more
Documentation:
Use These 5 Guidelines for Audit-Proof Record Corrections
Documentation clarifications can be a big help -- if you use them wisely. With the p... Read more
Medical Review:
Avoid Late Entry Red Flags
When does a clarification hurt instead of help? Don't let the fear that your medical reco... Read more
What Do You Think?
The following Q&A has been provided by Rick Gawenda, PT, president of Gawenda Seminar... Read more
Medicare, Compliance & Clinical News to Use
CMSextends 5010 compliance period. Providers that were sweating the April 1 deadline for ... Read more
Quality of Care:
Steer Clear of Shortfalls in Managing Antipsychotic Therapy
Heed pointers from 2 MDs. Louis Mudannayake, MD, CMD, tells MDS Alert that the facility w... Read more
RAI Compliance:
Check Out These ADL Coding Tactics
Plus: Be aware of this April 1 RAI manual revision. At Extendicare Health Services' nursi... Read more
Tool:
Know the 'Adverse Consequences of Antipsychotics' Listed in the CAA Resource
The "Review of Indicators of Psychotropic Drug Use" in the RAI manual's Care Area Assessm... Read more
Quality of Care:
Cover These Psychosocial Assessment Bases
Experts advise incorporating these parameters. Francis Battisti, PhD, LCSW, observes that... Read more
What Do You Think?
The following Q&As have been provided courtesy of Rick Gawenda, PT, principal of Gawe... Read more
Coding Quizzer:
How Would You Code These RAI Manual Scenarios for Bed Mobility (G0110A)?
Example No. 1: "Mrs. D. can easily turn and position herself in bed and is able to sit up... Read more
Medicare & Clinical News to Use
CMShas "proposed that providers and suppliers must report and return self-identified over... Read more
RAI Compliance:
Don't Be Caught Off Guard by the April RAI Manual and MDS
Beware this condition in Section M. Is your SNF on top of these April 1 MDS coding change... Read more
Quality of Care:
Boost Your Braden Scale Expertise
QI nurse explains positioning techniques. In a talk at the recent LeadingAge annual meeti... Read more
Resource:
Know the April 1 RAI Manual Instructions for Skin Tears, MASD, Weight Gain
The following verbiage has been excerpted verbatim from the April version of the RAI manu... Read more
Tool:
Check Out the State Operations Manual's Definitions of the Types of Urinary Incontinence
The State Operations Manual, Appendix PP, notes that "there are several types of urinary ... Read more
What Do You Think?
Question: Does the Medicare program reimburse for CPT® code 95992, Canalith Re-positioni... Read more
Coding Quizzer:
How Would You Code These 2 RAI Manual Examples at H0300 (Urinary Incontinence)?
Scenario No. 1: "An 86-year-old female resident has had longstanding stress-type incontin... Read more
ICD-10 & Medicare News to Use
The ICD-10 date will be postponed. Just three months ago, CMS representatives firmly told... Read more
Care Planning:
Shore Up Pressure Ulcer Risk Assessment
This clinical scenario illustrates how a Braden scale score can be way off the mark, acco... Read more
Pressure Ulcer Prevention
Concerned That a Resident's Shoes May Be Too Small? Here's What to Do, Advises Nurse Expe... Read more
Resident Safety:
Keep Resident Sexual Abuse on Your Radar Screen
These symptoms require evaluation, says forensic nurse specialist. Beware: During a CMS w... Read more
Research Study:
ABRAT (Aggressive Behaviour Assessment Tool) Provides a 'HeadsUp' That a Patient May Lash Out
Two nurse researchers give you the inside scoop on this questionnaire. A study on the AB... Read more
End-of-Life Care:
Don't Fall Short in Managing Shortness of Breath in Terminally Ill Patients
Hospice providers explain the role of low-dose morphine. As MDS Alert reported previously... Read more
Tool:
Check Out This Table on Anticholinergic Meds From the CMS' State Operations Manual
Examples of Medications with Anticholinergic Properties Source: Table 2 in the "State Ope... Read more
What Do You Think?
Get Answers From CMS Reps About EOT & COT OMRAs During the December 2011 SNF/LTC Open... Read more
Coding Quizzer:
Try Your Hand at Coding These 2 RAI Manual Examples at C1300 (Signs and symptoms of delirium based on the CAM ©).
How would you code C1300A (inattention) for the example below? Example No. 1: "During the... Read more
ICD-10, Payment, Clinical & MDS News
CMShas not instituted any delay or elimination of ICD-10, which means you'll need to be r... Read more
Available Years:  2012  2011  2010  2009  2008  2007  2006  2005  2004  2003