Image of nurses' hands at computer keyboard

Overwhelmed by the initial outpouring of long-term care providers wanting to learn more about pending changes to the MDS 3.0 system, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will host an additional conference call on the subject Thursday. The initial 7,000 telephone lines set up by the government for its Aug. 23 call were quickly snapped up, locking many out. Changes go into effect for fiscal 2012, which begins Oct. 1 this year.

A new Special Open Door Forum will take place from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern). Registration information, an agenda and other materials for the call can be found at the CMS website here. Among other topics, officials will discuss designating the location of group therapy; student supervision; changes to the MDS assessment schedule; end of therapy (EOT); other Medicare required assessment (OMRA) clarifications; and perhaps most prominently, change of therapy (COT) OMRA and other topics.