Webinar - Team MDS Series: Ruling MDS 3.0 Assessment and Completion3/24/202611:30am
Presented By:
- Sarah Becker RN RAC-CT, DNS-CT, QCP, Director of Clinical Reimbursement, Proactive LTC Consulting
Contact Person:
Proactive Medical Review and Consulting [email protected]
Course Description:
This focused 60-minute session provides an essential overview of CMS requirements for MDS 3.0 assessment and completion, including corrections, deletions, Interim Payment Assessments (IPAs), interrupted stays, and discharge processes. Participants will review regulatory updates, documentation best practices, and real-world coding examples to strengthen compliance, accuracy, and PDPM reimbursement outcomes. The session emphasizes efficiency in MDS scheduling and sequencing to reduce audit risk and support accurate clinical representation.
Learning Objectives
- Identify key CMS regulations governing MDS 3.0 assessment completion and submission.
- Determine when to complete an IPA versus other unscheduled assessments under PDPM.
- Describe required procedures for MDS corrections and deletions.
- Apply interrupted stay and discharge assessment rules to maintain compliance and accurate payment.
Course Content
- 10 min: Introduction to assessment and completion requirements; overview of federal regulations and CMS updates.
- 15 min: IPA timing and criteria; differentiating between unscheduled, IPA, and interrupted stay scenarios.
- 15 min: Corrections and deletions—required documentation, completion steps, and common errors to avoid.
- 10 min: Discharge assessments—PPS vs. OBRA, sequencing, and best practices for compliant coding.
- 10 min: Case examples and Q&A—applying rules to real-life MDS situations and audit scenarios.
Target Audience: MDS Coordinators, Directors of Nursing, Assistant DONs, Clinical Reimbursement Specialists, and Interdisciplinary Team members involved in MDS and PDPM processes.
Instructional Level: Intermediate
Program Length: 1 hour
List Learning Objectives: What participants will gain from attending this session:
Content: Bullet-point list of information covered to meet learning objective:
1. Identify key CMS regulations governing MDS 3.0 assessment completion and submission.
- Requirements under the RAI User’s Manual for completing OBRA and PPS assessments
- Required timeframes for completion and submission
- Overview of Section A rules that drive sequencing, billing, and compliance
- Recent CMS updates impacting assessment scheduling and PDPM payment
- Understanding the impact of late/incorrect submissions on audits and reimbursement
2. Identify key CMS regulations governing MDS 3.0 assessment completion and submission.
- PDPM-specific criteria for triggering an IPA
- How clinical changes influence PDPM components (Nursing, PT/OT, SLP, NTA)
- Clarifying the difference between unscheduled/Other assessments, IPAs, Combined OBRA/PPS assessments
- Identifying red flags for late or missed assessments
- Practical workflow strategies to capture IPAs timely
3. Describe required procedures for MDS corrections and deletions.
- When a modification vs. inactivation is required
- How to determine the type of correction based on error type (clinical vs. administrative)
- How correction timing impacts PDPM claims
- Best documentation practices to support corrections
- Common RAI coding errors and how to prevent them
- How to verify corrections using iQIES CASPER reports
4. Apply interrupted stay and discharge assessment rules to maintain compliance and accurate payment.
- Definition of an interrupted stay under PDPM
- How to determine if a return day falls within the 3-day window
- Discharge assessment requirements (OBRA vs. PPS)
- Sequencing rules for planned vs. unplanned discharges
- Case studies illustrating interrupted stay decision-making
- How incorrect discharge sequencing affects reimbursement and resident records