MDS Data Certification Deadline Is Friday
Nursing home members are reminded that Minimum Data Set (MDS) data certifications must be received by the Department of Health (DOH) no later than Fri., July 30th. Homes must email the signed and notarized certification to MDSBRHCR@health.ny.gov within seven days of pressing the “Submit” button indicating that their MDS data is correct. The Dear Administrator Letter (DAL) is available here; the certification form is here. The July 2021 Medicaid rate marks the first time that the State is utilizing the new case mix index (CMI) methodology, which bases the calculation on all MDS assessments submitted during the six-month catchment period (i.e., Oct. 1, 2020 through March 31, 2021) instead of using the “picture date” approach.
The window for reviewing the MDS assessments that will be used for calculating the CMI used to adjust July 2021 Medicaid rates closed on Fri., July 23rd. Providers had until then to review the data posted on the Health Commerce System (HCS) and ensure that the correct payer and special population information was reflected. Homes that missed the deadline should review and submit their MDS assessments. As in previous MDS verification cycles, providers will be able to update the payer status, the specialty unit indicator, as well as the special population flag (i.e., Dementia, BMI, TBI).
A recording of the webinar that DOH presented outlining the new process is available here, the presentation slides are here, and a set of Questions and Answers is posted here.
Questions may be submitted to MDSBRHCR@health.ny.gov, but DOH reminds providers to use the secure transfer application and address the packet to BLTCRMDS Group if sending resident-identifying information (instructions for using secure transfer appear on p. 24 of the slides). Additional information and a summary of key points from the webinar are available here.
Contact: Ken Allison, kallison@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8820