Mds/pps Q&a 002

Hi Tex...

Do you know that the RUG score of a 60-min rx 5X a week is exactly the same as the 30-min's? Hence, if you give 30-min rx you can treat 2 residents.

But don't get me wrong. The minutes in this scenario is just a sample. The facility I'm in is non-profit. Therapy mins. are determined accdg. to individual residents full potential. Besides, our salaried therapists don't know that this is the case either (30 & 60 min rx). Imagine all the "for profit" facilities out there gobbling on this situation -- 2 residents for the price of an hourly paid therapist?

BTW Tex.. did you have to pay overtime to the the therapist to come in on a weekend?

So far Catlady since the inception of PPS, our Rehab reimbursments are going smoothly, never experienced a loss.

Illness and refusals are common occurences but definitely not a deterrent to get a Rehab. RUGs. Afterall, they can occur at any day including weekends, too. I guess this is were a good RN Coordinator play a critical role. Knowing the ARD window, use of grace days, and utilizing Rehab nsg. programs. Camaraderie with the therapists to provide therapies at bedside come very handy too.

Most of all, being aware of the number of therapy minutes in each Rehab RUG categories is very crucial. Cost effectiveness is the key. More minutes require more staff time. UNLESS you're facility is a dedicated short-term Rehab, paying add'l staff time for a higher RUGs is not always cost effective. As in our case, we are only 15% short-term Rehab. Using the wage index for the PPS Rates dated July 2001, more minutes + add'l staff time doesn't add up.

Do you guys know the minimum and maximum minutes for EACH Rehab. RUG Score? Assuming you've determined your client's Rehab. RUGs, which number of mins would you place a client in that particular RUG - the minimum or maximum?