Coming to a Nursing Home Near You...

In February 2015, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the nationwide expansion of the MDS Focused Survey. The decision to expand the MDS Survey, which will look at staffing as well, is based on the results of a pilot study completed in August 2014. The pilot enabled surveyors (who received specialized training for these surveys) to review the nursing home resident assessment processes in more depth than the annual surveys. Findings from the surveys included inaccurate staging and documentation of pressure ulcers, lack of knowledge regarding the classification of antipsychotic drugs and poor coding regarding the use of restraints. Deficiencies were identified and cited on all but one survey (i.e., 24 of 25 surveys).

LeadingAge NY has been informed by the Department of Health (DOH) that it has started to train surveyors in the MDS focused survey process, and will begin these surveys in June 2015 in each region of the State. The surveys will be completed by two surveyors and take two days to complete. CMS will determine the number of surveys to be done and select the facilities to be surveyed. These surveys will be in addition to the annual survey of record performed by DOH. A review of staffing will also take place at the time of the survey. 

LeadingAge ProCare provides ongoing MDS consulting, which includes reviewing MDS process, policies and procedures, conducting coding integrity audits and reviewing interdisciplinary documentation, and is prepared to assist members in preparation for the MDS Focused Survey.

Contact: Elliott Frost, efrost@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8832