The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will hold a conference call for skilled nursing home providers on the Resource Utilization Group-Version IV (RUG-IV) system this Wednesday, June 23, from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. EDT. The toll-free call will review key aspects of the case-mix system, which will take effect on an interim basis on Oct. 1, 2010, according to the agency.

Experts will discuss coding procedures with emphasis on the appropriate “look-back”  periods to be used when coding the Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0. The call also will cover the reporting of individual, concurrent and group therapy for accurate payment. Another topic is how changes to the ADL coding requirements will affect the assignment of MDS 3.0 records to a RUG-IV group.

CMS is scheduling two more conference calls for providers for August, the agency said. These will explain other payment issues, including the transition from RUG-III to RUG-IV and the additional changes needed to install a hybrid RUG-III grouper mandated by statute. For more information and to register for Wednesday’s call, click here.