MDS Alert
Take a Look at How Medicare Residents in RUG-III Would Fit Into RUG-IV
PDF
The change in distribution provides a wake-up call about shifting trends. CMS provides a comparison chart below to show how the same MDS 2.0 data results in residents going into RUGs under the current system versus the RUG-IV system, which is set to go into effect on Oct. 1, 2010. Caution: "CMS' comparison of the RUG-III to RUG-IV distributions for 2008 had to have included some assumptions in the calculation," says Ron Orth, RN, NHA, CPC, RAC-MT, president of Clinical Reimbursement Solutions LLC in Milwaukee. These include "the amount of concurrent therapy residents received and whether certain services were provided in the hospital lookback," he says. Thus Orth isn't sure how "totally accurate" the comparison is. "CMS is using the data to support that RUG-IV is budget neutral," although "whether it's budget neutral remains to be seen." An alternative: To roughly estimate the impact of RUG-IV on their own SNF, "SNFs could use their own data and recalculate the RUGs based on the RUG-IV indicators," Orth suggests.
MDS Alert
- MDS 3.0:
Check Out These 3 Highlights of MDS 3.0 Instructions
ADL examples clear up what a code of '7' entails. With chapter 3 of the [...] - Manual Instructions Define Isolation as Provided in a Private Room
Some experts, however, think it may not be crystal clear. Before the final MDS 3.0 [...] - COMPLIANCE:
Don't Let 'Phantom Orders' Come Back to Haunt Your Professional License or Facility
An AMDA survey identifies orders being written without physician authorization -- here's how to avoid that [...] - Risk Management:
Just What the Risk Manager Might Order: Systems to Address These 2 Physician-Order Related Issues
Sidestep nursing board actions, IJ citations and payment recoupments. With RACs on the loose and [...] - MEDICARE:
Good News on the RAC Front: SNFs May Not Have to Worry About Hospital Denials as Much as They Think
SNFs' payment fate may hang on this key manual language. As the Recovery Audit Contractors [...] - MANAGEMENT:
Start Thinking Through How to Make RUG-IV Work for You
Consider these key principles, including options for rehab case management. When the new RUGs roll [...] - WHAT DO YOU THINK?:
Is CMS Going to Limit the Amount of Concurrent Therapy That Counts Toward a Rehab RUG?
Question: Has CMS already indicated that it plans to cap the amount of concurrent therapy [...] - TOOL:
Take a Look at How Medicare Residents in RUG-III Would Fit Into RUG-IV
The change in distribution provides a wake-up call about shifting trends. CMS provides a comparison [...] - RAI TRENDS:
AANAC Survey Quantifies How Much Time MDS Nurses Typically Spend on Different Types of Assessments
Find out how you might use this data for your own facility. If you are [...] - MEDICAL PRIVACY:
Got Electronic Health Records? Brush Up on Privacy Basics Before Your Next Survey
CMS directs surveyors to look for these 2 common privacy missteps. The best advice for [...] - What Are the Top Challenges for Those Working in Nursing Homes?
It's not salaries or job security, according to a recent AANAC survey. If you view [...] - PAYMENT & CLINICAL NEWS:
CMS recently announced its decision to pay for HIV screening for Medicare beneficiaries at increased [...]