MDS Alert

Test Yourself:

What You Don't Know Can Hurt Your Surgical Wound Care Coding and RUG Scores

1. Which of the following constitutes surgical wound care for purposes of coding it in Section M of the MDS 2.0 or MDS 3.0? Circle all that apply.

1. Topical cleansing and/or wound irrigation

2. Application of antimicrobial ointments

3. Application of dressings of any type

4. Suture/staple removal

5. Warm soaks or heat application

6. Application of medicated eye patches after ocular surgery

7. Wound care following surgical debridement of a pressure ulcer

2. A surgical wound and one or more skin treatments coded on the MDS 2.0 may place the resident into which of the following RUG-III categories, if he or she has the requisite ADL score:

a. Extensive Services

b. Clinically Complex

c. Special Care

3. A surgical wound and one or more skin treatments coded on the MDS 3.0 may place the resident into which of the following RUG-IV categories, if he or she has the requisite ADL score (as published in the final SNF PPS rule for FY 2010):

a. Extensive Services

b. Special Care

c. Clinically Complex

d. None of the above

Editor's note: Check out the answers in the next MDS Alert.

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