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MDS

Regulators gear up for special mandatory broadcast on MDS 3.0

December 10, 2009

The first of three satellite broadcasts by federal regulators on the new Minimum Data Set 3.0 will take place from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. (Eastern Time) Thursday. Officials with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will give a wide-ranging introduction of the new assessment tool, which is on track to go into effect Oct. 1.

New MDS flu guidance for nursing facilities

September 11, 2009

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has issued new MDS coding guidance for skilled nursing facilities for the upcoming flu season.

New CMS rule to eliminate section of MDS, revise RUGs

August 25, 2009

A controversial new rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid rule will recalibrate Medicare case mixes under the Resource Utilization Group (RUG) system. Specifically, it will eliminate a section of the Minimum Data Set (MDS) and change the RUG classification process for short-stay residents.

Healthcare officials eliminate nursing home assessment protocols

May 28, 2009

It's a wrap on RAPs. Resident Assessment Protocols (RAPs) will be eliminated under a new assessment regimen in development, an official with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced on Thursday.

CMS issues new MDS 3.0 schedule -- and quickly recalls it

April 13, 2009

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services last week posted on its Web site a new schedule for the planned October 2010 rollout of the new MDS 3.0. But the agency quickly removed it the same day.

DAY ONE: McKnight's third annual Online Expo to kick off with webcasts on technology, wound care and payment

March 25, 2009

The third annual online trade show for the long-term care field starts today with a whole range of educational webcasts and virtual vendor booths. It's not too late to register for the two-day event at www.mcknights.com/expo.

Ask the nursing expert: dealing with disorderly RNs

Anne Marie Barnett March 01, 2009

Anne Marie Barnett, RN Former President, Maryland NADONA/LTC

McKnight's Online Expo to offer continuing education credits

February 24, 2009

The American Health Care Association and the Alliance for Quality Nursing Home Care Monday reiterated the importance of reforming the long-term care payment system. McKnight's' readers can learn more about payment and policy issues during the McKnight's Online Expo March 25-26.

AHCA pressures CMS, lawmakers to wait on 'five-star' rating system

November 25, 2008

The pending "five-star" nursing home rating system should be delayed because it would not accurately reflect the quality of the nation's nursing homes, the American Health Care Association told the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently.

Nursing homes lukewarm to government's new five-star rating system

June 19, 2008

Nursing home operators wasted little time Wednesday issuing rebuttals to the federal government's announcement that it would create and publish individual facility rankings on its Web site by the end of the year.

New electronic health record demonstration draws strong response

May 21, 2008

More than 30 communities around the country have applied to be a part of a new demonstration project that the Department of Health and Human Services hopes will nudge the nation towards electronic health records (EHR), according to a statement from HHS.

New role for nursing home compliance officers: documenting care

April 22, 2008

Because new Medicare reimbursement policies are focusing on quality of care at nursing homes, compliance officers will have a greater role in ensuring accurate documentation of care, one medical official said, according to a news report.

Ask the care expert

Sherrie Dornberger April 01, 2008

My administrator and board want my nursing staff to look at the number of nursing hours per resident and cut those hours. Is there any place where I could find out the average number of nurse hours per resident day in certified nursing facilities, and how many facilities are in each state?

Ask the payment expert

Patricia Boyer April 01, 2008

How is the new Quality Indicator Survey process going to affect facilities?

Ask the payment expert

Patricia Boyer March 01, 2008

We want to prepare our staff for the MDS 3.0. What tools can we use?

Ask the payment expert

February 06, 2008

When should we start training our staff on the MDS 3.0?

Tech toys

January 30, 2008

The nation's top lawmakers are learning more about new monitoring, personal health record and brain fitness technologies for seniors during a special briefing and demonstration today.Senators from the Special Committee on Aging; the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee; and the Medical Technology Caucus are hosting the event to discuss and explore what type of support is needed to promote technological advances that can help our nation's aging population.

Officials: New MDS takes about half the time to complete

January 25, 2008

The new Minimum Data Set 3.0 will increase clinical relevance, accuracy and clarity, and give residents a greater voice in data collection when it is implemented next year, experts announced.And providers will be able to complete the form in 45% less time on average.

CMS releases final version of MDS 3.0

January 18, 2008

Federal regulators released the final version of the MDS 3.0 on Thursday, a week before they will hold a special, informational Open Door Forum on it.

CMS expecting big crowd for MDS 3.0 special Open Door Forum

January 09, 2008

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for the first time is requesting advance registration for a nursing home "Open Door Forum." The federal regulatory body will report results of its five-year MDS 3.0 "validation" study at the forum at 1 p.m. (Eastern time) on Jan. 24.

Ask the care expert

Sherrie Dornberger November 01, 2007

I am a charge nurse at a skilled care facility and assist with the MDS. I overheard our DON talking about a "CARE tool." Can you give me some information on this?