On August 10, 2021, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a 30-minute training course that provides an overview of the Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessment and coding of two sections: K0200 Height and Weight and K0510 Nutritional Approaches. The course is intended for providers in Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs) and is designed to be used on demand anywhere you can access a browser.
The course includes interactive exercises to test knowledge related to the assessment and coding of K0200 and K0510. Item rationale, steps for assessment, and coding instructions are also reviewed in the course. The training course can be accessed here.
The CMS webpage entitled Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Quality Reporting Program (QRP) Training, provides additional resources designed to provide information about SNF QRP trainings. Topics for which CMS has provided training resources include:
- Cognitive & Mood Assessment
- Properly Coding Section GG
- Achieving a Full Annual Payment Update (APU)
- Properly Coding Section J Health Conditions: Coding the Standardized Patient Assessment Data
- Element Related to Falls
- Properly Coding Section N: Medication-Drug Regimen Review
- How Data Elements Are Used to Construct Quality Measures (QMs)
All of the CMS training resources for SNFs can be accessed here.
Compliance Perspective
Issue
Correct coding of the MDS is absolutely crucial to ensure accuracy of quality measures for your facility and accurate billing. Quality Measures (QMs) are available online to your residents, their families, and potential customers, and provide them with information regarding the quality of care being delivered by your staff. These QMs should guide your facility to determine the areas of your quality improvement efforts that need additional attention. Inaccurate coding will lead to inaccurate QMs, which may be seen as fraud in billing practices, and could lead to a deficiency for F641 – Accuracy of Assessments. Facility leadership, including the MDS coordinators, should be trained and knowledgeable on accurate coding and the importance of quality measures, and should have access to the most current version of the Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) Manual, which is available here.
Discussion Points
- Review your policies and procedures to determine if revisions are needed to ensure accurate coding of the MDS. Revise your policy as needed when updates are published.
- Train all appropriate staff on how to code the MDS accurately, how your quality measures are formulated, and document that the training occurred.
- Periodically audit to ensure that coding is accurately completed by all individuals with responsibility for inputting data for the MDS at your facility. Determine that staff completing any sections of the MDS have the most current version of the users’ manual to guide them, and that they are using it.
