Webinar
Overview
The updated, 2025 presentation highlights the Ten Most Confusing MDS Coding Questions identified this year by licensed nurses nationwide. These challenging questions were gathered from State RAI Coordinators, AAPACN Expert Advisory Panel Members and Master Teachers, the AAPACN MDS Community, and frequently asked questions from Hansen Hunter clients.
During the webinar, participants will be guided through the RAI User’s Manual instructions, errata documents, and other CMS resources to clarify the correct coding for each of these complex questions. This presentation is valuable for long-term care nurses, Nursing Home Administrators, and nurse leaders, equipping their MDS teams to accurately address payment and Quality Measure items. With the new Appendix PP emphasizing MDS accuracy, this session is essential for anyone seeking to confidently navigate these challenging coding scenarios.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify three commonly misunderstood MDS coding item instructions.
- Accurately code the MDS items for at least 3 or more of the MDS items causing the most confusion.
- State the best resource to use for accurate MDS coding instructions.
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 & Co., 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).
Credit Hours
- 1.5 hours for Licensed Nurses
- 1.5 NAB hours for Nursing Home Adminstrators
