MDS Alert

CODING QUIZZER:

Can You Code This Type Of Suctioning At P1ai?

The wrong answer sets your facility up for medical review snafus.

A resident receives oral suctioning provided by the LPN during the MDS lookback for P1a. Can the facility count this as suctioning for extensive services by coding it at P1ai?

Answer: The RAI manual (page 3-183) provides a definition for suctioning for coding in section P1ai on the MDS. Suctioning - Includes nasopharyngeal or tracheal aspiration only. Thus, you should not code oral suctioning at P1ai. Oral suctioning does not count toward extensive services. Reimbursement for oral suctioning is included in the daily per diem RUG rate.

Source: Cheryl Field, MSN, RN, a reimbursement specialist with LTCQ Inc. (
www.ltcq.com) in Lexington, MA.

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