Webinar
Overview
Accuracy of MDS coding is critical to correct payment, Quality Measures, survey and the Five Star Quality Rating services. Often MDS coding instructions are complex and easily misunderstood. CMS has initiated a SNF Data Validation Audit of 10% of SNFs which submitted a Medicare A claim the previous year. The State RAI Coordinators, AAPACN (American Association of Post-Acute Care Nursing) Master teachers and Expert Advisory Panel Members, and MDS coordinators on the AAPACN MDS Community were asked to identify the most confusing MDS questions they have had to answer within the last year. This presentation is focused on those questions supplied by national experts and boots on the ground MDS Coordinators. Ten of the most commonly identified confusing questions were selected. The presentation will pose the question and then supply the correct responses based on the RAI User’s Manual and other trusted and verified sources. Recent updates to the RAI User’s Manual instructions were frequently the cause of confusion. Example: New coding instructions about falls and falls with major injury related to findings from an OIG investigation of accurately reported falls with major injury.
A bonus 11th question has been added to assist MDS staff to understand how to proceed when an MDS was incorrectly modified. Knowing the correct steps can prevent revenue loss that can occur if the MDS is incorrectly inactivated instead of being modified again.
Instructor
Carol Maher is a Board-Certified Gerontological Registered Nurse with over 30 years of experience in long-term care. Her extensive career includes roles as an MDS Coordinator, Senior Vice President of Utilization Services, and Director of Reimbursement for large, multi-facility organizations.
Carol was selected as one of the Gold Standard Nurses for MDS 3.0, contributing to the development of the Care Area Assessments (CAAs) through the RAP workgroup and serving on numerous Technical Expert Panels focused on MDS, Quality Measures, and care planning. She is a nationally recognized speaker, presenting regularly at AANAC, AHCA, and LeadingAge conferences, as well as for many state-level organizations. Her writing has appeared frequently in publications covering the RAI process and Prospective Payment System (PPS).
Carol served for nine years on the AANAC Board of Directors and currently sits on the AANAC Expert Advisory Panel. She is also an AANAC Master Teacher. As Director of Education at Hansen Hunter Carol leads MDS and Medicare training sessions nationwide, presents monthly educational webinars, and conducts compliance audits. She is the author of The Long-Term Care MDS Coordinator’s Field Guide (HCPro, 2016).