As a MDS coordinator/ Medicare care manager, what all are you responsible for at your facility? How much do you make? How big is your facility?
I have been in my position two years and it seems the longer I am there, the more the DON piles on me
We have a 80 bed facility w/ an average 10-15 SNF
I do all assessments, careplans and case management
I am responsible for the restorative nursing program and the infection control program. I do all assessments of the patients in the hospital before admit (sometimes traveling up to 40 miles)
There are many more to say the least
I am a LPN and make only 18.00 an hour. I have been in this position 2 years.
In the last two years, I have not been asked to work the floor or take nursing call. I absolutely could not focus on re-imbursement or care planning if I were worried about patient care. The only down side is that the floor nurses don't consider me a supervisor, so when something is missing, I have to let the DON know. It works great here, because I report directly to the administrator, and am not counted in nursing hours. Our administrator "gets it," that I am a "financial clinician." Brings up an interesting point...can't you do MDS's with a compromised license? If you had a compromised license, you couldn't be asked to take a nursing assignment. I actually thought that a lot of MDS nurses were disabled or had restricted licenses, but now that I have been doing it for 8 years, I don't see that very much.
Number One, an LPN cannot be the MDS Coordinator...by state regulations, it calls for an RN. Number two, I head it said in a training one day that the MDS Coordinator should be Administration and NOT nursing...I believe that after being pulled to do supervision, etc...you cannot keep up! For the last 4 years, I've managed to complete the assessments for 200 residents, OBRA and Medicare...run careplanning 5days/week...run Medicare meeting...do all the scheduling...just to name a few of my duties. Only until recently have I had an MDS nurse...she completes the OBRA assessments now, thank God! I am fortunate to make over $30 in my upstate NY facility. With all the changes in reiumbursement, it's getting harder and harder for me to complete even the Medicare assessments...there is just SO much I have to manage, even the Rehab department to some extent!!
Specializes in Care Coordination, MDS, med-surg, Peds.
An MDS Coordinator can even be a Social Service worker, or an LPN, at least in Missouri. The only guideline is that ONLY an RN can SIGN the MDS as completed.
Might be different in Missouri, but yes you can get away with someone other than an RN being the coordinator I suppose...as long as the person signing is an RN; however, that relies heavily on a LOT of trust...personally I wouldn't want my license covering...just sayin..
Specializes in Care Coordination, MDS, med-surg, Peds.
I understand what you are saying, but when you sign as RN you are verifying completion, NOT accuracy, so it does help some. I have other disciplines who do the assessments, like Soc Serv, activities and dietary, I am not signing that they are accurate, just that the information is there.(I input the info, just don't do the assessments)
"My medicare coordinator is an LPN and handles a 26 bed Rehab unit, which includes managed care, medicare and private pay. She is responsible for the MDS and RAPS, calling for coverage verification, working with managed care companies, giving denials and speaking to residents and families regarding the benefits. She makes about $22/hr, and averages about 64 hours per week. All of the assessments for her residents are completed by the Nurse manager of that unit.
My MDS coordinator is an RN and handles the other 84 LTC beds in the facility. She is responsible for the MDS and RAPS and assessments of those residents. She also signs off on the medicare coordinator's work. She makes about $26/hr, and averages about 64 hours per week. "
64 hours per week! Wow, hopefully they are both hourly. Do they put in that many hours weekly as a means to keep up to date? And this is an average... they must be exhausted
I have to say now with the new changes come oct 2011, my regional team has finally heard me. I now only have about 20 medicare, about 24 long term, I attend all of their care plan meetings weekly, attend daily medicare meetings. Attend what we call an hour and a half care meeting a week. Though I really get nothing from it. I have to keep a management board up to the minute accurate, which takes literally all day to do, every time there is a change in a medicare pts status, it needs to be recorded on this board. And of course complete the MDS, CAAs, and care plans. My salary is $33.50. I really do love my job and the people I work with. I don't enjoy the micro management.
susanthomas1954
195 Posts
In the last two years, I have not been asked to work the floor or take nursing call. I absolutely could not focus on re-imbursement or care planning if I were worried about patient care. The only down side is that the floor nurses don't consider me a supervisor, so when something is missing, I have to let the DON know. It works great here, because I report directly to the administrator, and am not counted in nursing hours. Our administrator "gets it," that I am a "financial clinician." Brings up an interesting point...can't you do MDS's with a compromised license? If you had a compromised license, you couldn't be asked to take a nursing assignment. I actually thought that a lot of MDS nurses were disabled or had restricted licenses, but now that I have been doing it for 8 years, I don't see that very much.
ST