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MDS Alert

Section O:
Perfect Your Flu Vaccine Coding With These 3 Scenarios
What to do when you can’t determine whether resident received vaccine. Like othe... Read more
SNFs:
Heads Up: How The IMPACT Act Will Change Your Assessments
Beware of payment penalties for not reporting standardized data. Get ready for a brand... Read more
Section A:
Clear Up Your Coding Confusion Over New Item A1900
Strategy: Understand when the episode of care does or does not end. If you’re st... Read more
Section Q:
Follow 6 Steps For Accurate Section Q Coding
Pitfall: Don’t let feasibility issues trip up your coding When Section Q —... Read more
Section M:
Don't Sink Your Quality Scores -- Tread Carefully When Coding M0800
How to handle unstageable pressure ulcers in Item M0800. Item M0800 — Worsening ... Read more
Tool:
Checklist: Improve All Aspects Of Your Pressure Ulcer MDS Coding & Care
Are you covering these 9 crucial areas in your care plans? If your facility is working... Read more
Care Quality:
Brace Yourself: MDS-Focused Surveys Go Nationwide In 2015
How your Five-Star Quality Rating will change drastically next year. The Centers for M... Read more
RUG-IV:
Take A Closer Look At The New Completion Standards For COT OMRA Policy
Learn from 3 examples how to handle COT and RUG classification. The Centers for Medica... Read more
Section P:
Avoid Making The Top 4 Mistakes When Coding Restraint Use
Use this three-step process for properly coding P0100. Poor coding of Item P0100 &mdas... Read more
Section M:
Heed 3 Quick Tips For Pressure Ulcer Staging
Mistake: Wound’s depth won’t give you correct staging answer. Your staging... Read more
Learn The Answers To These Section M FAQs
What’s the right way to code a scab? Find out the answer. If you’re lik... Read more
Toolkit:
Brush Up On Drug Classification For Antipsychotics
Are you coding antipsychotics properly on the MDS? In the 2015 MDS-focused surveys, st... Read more
Section A:
Gain A Deeper Understanding Of Key MDS 3.0 Changes
Beware of the consequences for blundering coding of A0410. The recent RAI Manual v1.12... Read more
Industry News to Use:
SNFs: Are You Meeting The Level-Of-Care Requirement?
Plus: Care quality, hospitalizations and overpayments are on OIG’s hit list for NF... Read more
Reader Question:
Decode Confusing New Discharge-Return-Not-Anticipated Instructions
Question: The October 2014 RAI Manual update added a new example for “discharge re... Read more
Compliance:
RAI Manual Overhaul: Watch For Key Changes In Chapter 2
Manual contains substantive revisions to hospice benefit instructions. The updated RAI... Read more
Examine 6 Revised & Replaced Diagrams & Tables
Find out how Nursing Home and Swing-Bed ISC Reference Tables have changed. In addition... Read more
Staffing Strategies:
How To Keep A Great MDS Coordinator
Hint: The answer isn’t always a pay raise. Retaining or losing a good MDS Coordi... Read more
RAI Manual:
COT OMRA and RUG-IV Therapy Group Confusion? Heed 3 Examples
Watch out for whether a resident meets the therapy requirement for distinct calendar day... Read more
Industry News to Use:
SNFs: Check Out Revised CERT Guidance
Plus: Antipsychotic use will soon be part of your Five Star Quality score. Don’t... Read more
In other news:
Brace Yourself For Even More Scrutiny Of Antipsychotic Use
The National Partnership to Improve Dementia Care has surpassed its goal in reducing the... Read more
MDS 3.0:
How The Newest RAI Manual Update Will Change Your MDS Coding
Items A1100 and A1700 both get updated coding instructions. You have a whole host of c... Read more
RAI Manual:
Look For Changes Both Big & Small Sprinkled Throughout The MDS
Enjoy a third K0710 example to guide your MDS coding. Section A wasn’t the only ... Read more
You're Not Done Yet:
Section O Gets A Few Key Updates
CMS adds lots of text in instructions for flu vaccine coding. Just in case you were... Read more
Which MDS Items Look Different Now?
Learn how to code admission date in new item A1900. In addition to the many revisions ... Read more
Discharge Assessments:
Make Sure You're Doing Discharge Assessments When This Happens
Reminder: Federal regulations trump your state’s requirements in this case. Did ... Read more
Industry News to Use:
Know When You Can Begin Reclassifying Residents Into A RUG-IV Therapy Group
Plus: OIG is studying nursing facilities’ abuse/neglect reporting. Oct. 1 appear... Read more
In Other News:
Is Your Facility Reporting Abuse & Neglect Allegations?
Good news: If your facility is like the vast majority of nursing facilities, you are com... Read more
Reimbursement:
SNFs: Enjoy Some Wiggle-Room In Therapy RUG Classifications
Also, you’re getting a 2-percent payment-rate boost for FY 2015. Thanks to a fin... Read more
ADLs:
5 Examples Give You Needed Help With ADL Coding
Beware that sometimes the answer isn’t what you think it will be. Coding accurat... Read more
Tool:
Are You Clear On These Look-Back Period Outliers?
Pay attention to individual look-backs in the BIMS. Although the look-back period for ... Read more
Medicaid:
Follow 9 Steps To Make The Preliminary Point In Time Report Work For You
Correct missing, inaccurate assessments to positively influence your CMI. The Prelimin... Read more
What Do You Think?
Question: One of our residents went to a wedding on day 21 of her Medicare Stay and did ... Read more
PASRR:
Stumped On A1500- A1550? Here's Your PASRR Primer
Don’t throw away Level II screen at the first hint of dementia diagnosis. There ... Read more
Industry News to Use:
How You Can Smooth Care Transitions For Residents
Plus: Brace yourself for revisions in these F-Tags. If you’re looking to improve... Read more
MDS 3.0:
How To Complete Assessments On Time Without Pulling Your Hair Out
Know when you might allow your MDS software to do some of the heavy lifting. The timin... Read more
Section Z:
Follow 5 Expert Tips To Sidestep Signature Snags
Know the vastly different rules for dating Z0400 versus Z0500. You’ve almost fin... Read more
Nail Down The Right Timeframe For Conducting Resident Interviews
Understand the 2-day reprieve for standalone unscheduled PPS assessments. When is t... Read more
Sort Out ARDs & Signatures With These Scenarios
Learn when you can’t allow an individual staff member to sign only once. If t... Read more
Reimbursement:
Refresh Your 'Triple Check' To Get The Reimbursement You Deserve
Find out which key staff members you should include in the process. Auditing your own ... Read more
Sample Doc:
Use This Handy Checklist To Streamline Your Triple-Check Process
Keep your team ontrack by utilizing a comprehensive form. If you want to simplify and ... Read more
Tool:
Use This Decision Tree To Curb Your Use Of Physical Restraints
Start your decision-making process as soon as the resident’s admission. As you k... Read more
Industry News to Use:
Watch Out SNFs: HIPAA Penalties Will 'Set Records'
Plus: New research shines a light on the future of dementia care. Now that HIPAA audit... Read more
In other news
Learn The Most Promising Solutions To Improving Dementia Care Improving long-term care... Read more
MDS 3.0:
Use The Missing Assessment Report Strategically To Correct MDS Errors
Hunt down the specific reasons for missing assessments to make the right corrections. ... Read more
Pressure Ulcers:
Get The Answers To 3 Section M Coding Problems
How to avoid downstaging when you have reopening of healed ulcers. Coding blisters, pr... Read more
What Do These 3 Error Codes Really Mean?
Make sure you complete Section X first before fixing data. Getting error messages i... Read more
J0100:
Follow 5 Expert Tips To Simplify Your Pain Management Coding
J0100C encompasses more methods than you might think. Coding J0100 — Pain Manage... Read more
Tool:
Falls Prevention: Employ This Inspection Checklist
Instructions: Write the unit name, date and room numbers across the top line. Put the be... Read more
What Do You Think?
Question 1: I’m an MDS nurse and was debating the issue of IV meds with another MD... Read more
Industry News to Use:
SNFs: FY2015 Could Be A Banner Year For Reimbursement
Plus: Take a peek at surveyors’ new standards for dementia care. On May 6, CMS p... Read more
Catch Up On Changes To Appendix B, Data Submission Specs & Item Sets
On June 20, the CMS released an updated version of the RAI Manual’s Appendix B. Th... Read more
Section M:
Champion Your Pressure-Ulcer Coding With 6 Expert Tips
How to properly code worsening ulcers in M0800. When the resident’s medical reco... Read more
Section G:
Understand 'Rule Of 3' Steps Using 3 Scenarios
Remember to use sub-items when applying the third rule. Applying the Rule of 3 to code... Read more
ADLs:
How To Use The ADL Self-Performance Algorithm -- The Right Way
Tip: Keep definitions, Rule of 3 text handy while using algorithm. The October 2013 ov... Read more
MDS 3.0:
Get Ready For MDS 3.0 & Dementia Care Survey Pilots
Dementia survey goes way beyond reducing antipsychotic use. The Centers for Medicare &... Read more
PEPPER:
Your PEPPER Is Now Available -- How To Access It
New: Comparison group includes all SNFs in the same state. Your Fourth Quarter fiscal ... Read more
MDS 3.0:
Solve 3 Thorny MDS Questions
When you can — and can’t — report medications in J0100. What should ... Read more
Industry News to Use:
Could Functional-Status Quality Measures Be In Your Future?
Plus: SNF PPS proposed rule contains a wide array of policy, payment changes. The Cent... Read more
Section M:
Get The Answers To Your Most Puzzling Pressure Ulcer Questions
Is cartilage considered the same as bone when coding Stage 4 ulcers? If you struggle w... Read more
Section I:
Heed 7 Expert Tips To Ace Your Section I Coding
Beware of primary vs. secondary diagnoses confusion. Do you know the two steps you mus... Read more
Demystify M0700 Coding With 5 Scenarios
Code 9 for only these types of pressure ulcers. Coding M0700 — Most Severe Ti... Read more
Don't Get Stuck On These Tricky Section I Coding Problems
How to determine whether a diagnosis is ‘active’ during the look-back period... Read more
Section G:
Solve This Head-Scratching G0110 Problem With Professional Advice
Expert tip: When all else fails, code supervision. Coding G0110 — Activities of ... Read more
MDS 3.0:
Watch For Section A, I & O Changes In October Update
Prepare to tighten up your coding for therapy days. The Centers for Medicare & Med... Read more
Industry News to Use:
ICD-10 Delayed Again -- But Don't Stop Preparing
Also: Attempt rates for MDS resident interviews are soaring. The entire healthcare com... Read more
Section K:
Still Confused About K0710 Rules? Here's How To Do The Math
Heed expert advice on how to calculate for column 3. Since the October 2013 RAI manual... Read more
Follow 5 Steps to Code K0300
Don’t let some dietary regimens fool you into incorrect coding. Coding K0300 &md... Read more
Section O:
Get The Answers To Your Burning Questions About Section O
Clear up your confusion over reporting minutes & days in O0400D. Good news: If you... Read more
Solve This Helpful O0500 Scenario
Don’t confuse O0500 with O0400 coding for therapist’s time. You have a lot... Read more
Tool:
Need QAPI Help? Check Out This Treasure Trove Of Tools
Collaborative effort yields helpful resource for implementing QAPI. If you’re st... Read more
Section A:
Improve Your A0410 Coding In 3 Steps
Warning: Don’t submit MDS records to CMS when A0410=1. What criteria should you ... Read more
Industry News to Use:
Improve Dementia Care With These New Tools
Plus: Your Five Star Preview Report is now available. Improving dementia care has beco... Read more
Documentation:
Do Your Clinical Record & MDS Match Up For ADLs?
How to handle documentation when ADL levels change. Because the MDS is the basis for d... Read more
Section J:
Look For This Language In The Medical Record To Properly Code J1400
Follow 5 tips to determine correct coding for this item. If you’re poring over t... Read more
Therapy:
How To Balance Therapy Days & RUG Categories
Don’t let a COT throw a wrench in your RUG classification. With all the recent c... Read more
MDS 3.0:
MDS Corrections: 8 Scenarios Show You The Way
Know when to complete an SCSA vs. an SCPA. After reviewing prior assessments and recor... Read more
What Do You Think?
Question 1: I am still confused about when to do a Change in Therapy (COT). I was under ... Read more
Industry News to Use:
What The OIG Has In Store For SNFs This Year
Plus: CDC launches new website just for LTC providers. Beware: The Centers for Medicar... Read more
3 Examples Show You How To Count Therapy In Look-Back Period
When the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) added the new MDS 3.0 item O... Read more
Clip 'N' Save:
Use This Tool To Double-Check Short-Stay Qualification
Get a helping hand to properly code Z0100C. When you’re coding item Z0100 &mdash... Read more
In other news:
In other news:
Check Out This New LTC-Focused CDC Website If you’re looking for expert informat... Read more
MDS 3.0:
Follow 5 Steps To Set The ARD - The Right Way
Why you can set the ARD up to 14 days after discharge for A0310F. If you struggle with... Read more
LOAs:
Brush Up On Your LOA Know-How To Track Residents' Holiday Festivities
Plan your therapy schedule carefully to avoid decreased reimbursement. Did any of your... Read more
Clip 'N' Save:
Chart: Keep Track Of Section Q Roles & Resources
Know what agencies to contact for a variety of services & programs. When you&rsquo... Read more
Learn From This Section Q Case Study
Don’t let liability worries trump your resident’s individual rights. What ... Read more
Tool:
Use This Formula To Calculate Residents' Malnutrition Risk
Look for 6 characteristics to detect nutritional risk factors. Malnutrition can seriou... Read more
Regulations:
Say Good-Bye To 'No Improvement' Standard
Also get ready for enhanced documentation guidance. Good news: Thanks to the settlemen... Read more
Industry News to Use:
Nix Your Facility-Wide 'No CPR' Policy
Plus: Life Safety F-tag is no more. You’ll end up in hot water with the Centers ... Read more
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