Guest guest Posted August 10, 1998 Report Share Posted August 10, 1998 HCFA has responded to MDS questions and answers and have addressed completion of the MDS. The following is quoted from their web site: We have also received many questions regarding the completion date requirement for Medicare assessments for PPS. In particular, there seems to be some confusion between the Assessment Reference Date (MDS Item A3a) and the completion date of the Medicare PPS assessments. For example, we are frequently asked if the Medicare 5 day assessment must be completed on day 5 of the Medicare part A coverage period. To clarify, the Medicare 5 day assessment DOES NOT need to be completed by day 5 of the coverage period. In this case, " 5 day " refers to the Assessment Reference MDS Item A3a. And actually, with the grace period, the date at A3a of the Medicare 5 day assessment could be anywhere between day 1 and day 8. The time frame for completion of Medicare assessments was not addressed in the PPS Regulation. The date the RN Assessment Coordinator signs the assessment complete (MDS Item R2b) of a Medicare PPS assessment must be no later than 14 days after the Assessment Reference Date (MDS Item A3a). A formal notice of clarification will be issued in the near future. They have also stated the following: This assessment is to have an assessment reference date (Item A3a) of any day 1 through 8 of the Medicare Part A stay. Days 1-5 are optimal but days 6-8 are acceptable, and for some patients will actually be more appropriate. So, assess the patient using one of these first 8 days as the date from which you are viewing the patient. For Medicare payment, we are requiring that any assessment, including the 5 day, be " completed " within 14 days of the assessment reference date. That is, the item at R2b should be a date that is within 14 days of the date at A3a. Then the assessment must be " locked " within 7 days of the date at R2b, and transmitted to the State in which the SNF operates, within 31 days. Another factor to consider in timing completion and locking of assessments: bills only may be sent for assessments that have been locked. In some cases this means that you will want to complete and lock more quickly in order to be ready for the facility monthly billing. ____________ I hope this information helps clarify the confusion surrounding the MDS and the assessment dates. I encourage you to visit HCFA's web site to obtain more information regarding MDS Questions and Answers. Kathy Shields Professional Therapy Providers ---- Read this list on the Web at http://www.FindMail.com/list/ptmanager/ To unsubscribe, email to ptmanager-unsubscribe@... To subscribe, email to ptmanager-subscribe@... -- Start a FREE E-Mail List at http://makelist.com ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 10, 1998 Report Share Posted August 10, 1998 Kathy, Excellent Post to the list - Thanks!! It is always welcome to see referenced material on the list - this makes it much easier to tell what is opinion and what is fact. Great job!! To PTManager members A great URL for Medicare SNF PPS is <http://www.hcfa.gov/medicare/snfpps.htm> At 10:27 AM 8/10/1998 -0400, you wrote: >HCFA has responded to MDS questions and answers and have addressed completion >of the MDS. The following is quoted from their web site: > >We have also received many questions regarding the completion date requirement >for Medicare assessments for PPS. In particular, there seems to be some >confusion between the Assessment Reference Date (MDS Item A3a) and the >completion date of the Medicare PPS assessments. For example, we are >frequently asked if the Medicare 5 day assessment must be completed on day 5 >of the Medicare part A coverage period. To clarify, the Medicare 5 day >assessment DOES NOT need to be completed by day 5 of the coverage period. In >this case, " 5 day " refers to the Assessment Reference MDS Item A3a. And >actually, with the grace period, the date at A3a of the Medicare 5 day >assessment could be anywhere between day 1 and day 8. The time frame for >completion of Medicare assessments was not addressed in the PPS Regulation. >The date the RN Assessment Coordinator signs the assessment complete (MDS Item >R2b) of a Medicare PPS assessment must be no later than 14 days after the >Assessment Reference Date (MDS Item A3a). A formal notice of clarification >will be issued in the near future. > >They have also stated the following: This assessment is to have an assessment >reference date (Item A3a) of any day 1 through 8 of the Medicare Part A stay. >Days 1-5 are optimal but days 6-8 are acceptable, and for some patients will >actually be more appropriate. So, assess the patient using one of these first >8 days as the date from which you are viewing the patient. > >For Medicare payment, we are requiring that any assessment, including the 5 >day, be " completed " within 14 days of the assessment reference date. That is, >the item at R2b should be a date that is within 14 days of the date at A3a. >Then the assessment must be " locked " within 7 days of the date at R2b, and >transmitted to the State in which the SNF operates, within 31 days. > >Another factor to consider in timing completion and locking of assessments: >bills only may be sent for assessments that have been locked. In some cases >this means that you will want to complete and lock more quickly in order to be >ready for the facility monthly billing. >____________ > >I hope this information helps clarify the confusion surrounding the MDS and >the assessment dates. I encourage you to visit HCFA's web site to obtain more >information regarding MDS Questions and Answers. > >Kathy Shields >Professional Therapy Providers > > >---- >Read this list on the Web at http://www.FindMail.com/list/ptmanager/ >To unsubscribe, email to ptmanager-unsubscribe@... >To subscribe, email to ptmanager-subscribe@... >-- >Start a FREE E-Mail List at http://makelist.com ! > R. Kovacek, MSA, PT KovacekManagementServices, Inc. The FOCUS Group, Inc. 20225 Danbury Lane Harper Woods, MI 48225 Fax Email Pkovacek@... <http://www.theFOCUSgroup.net> Join PT Manager-- The Electronic Rehab Leadership Community To subscribe, send an empty message to ptmanager-subscribe@... ---- Read this list on the Web at http://www.FindMail.com/list/ptmanager/ To unsubscribe, email to ptmanager-unsubscribe@... To subscribe, email to ptmanager-subscribe@... -- Start a FREE E-Mail List at http://makelist.com ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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