what is scoop on section w, question 1?

'am not aware of it still being optional since implementation (large facilites - 5/23/07, small - 5/23/08). this is what the rai says...

coding: when the npi is available, enter the 10-digit npi in the spaces provided. the npi has no embedded dashes or spaces. recheck the number to ensure you have entered the 10 digits correctly. the facility is encouraged to begin using this number once it has obtained it.

once the facility's npi had been used on previous transactions, it cannot be left blank by default otherwise the submission will be rejected. if you had left this blank on a previous submission without a problem is because the software automatically populated this field, as it does with aa6a&b state/federal no.

unless by "optional" you mean completing the mds in paper form?

then i concur, continually writing down the npi is inefficient. since the software automatically fills it in when the mds is entered into the computer, leave it blank. however, i would include a statement in the policy "section xyz, items 123 are automatically filled by the software and do not need to be entered in the hardcopy". this will at least placate a surveyor's argument about the rn signing r2b when the npi is still blank.

What about the update?

"Information About Assessments and Section W Requirements.

• Section W - is included on all assessments with an assessment reference date (A3a) on or after October 1, 2005, all discharge tracking forms with a discharge date (R4) on or after October 1, 2005 and all reentry tracking forms with a reentry date (A4a) on or after October 1, 2005. However, not all Section W fields are required at all times. Below is a breakdown that explains what fields in Section W are required with each Reason for Assessment (RFA) in Section A, item 8.
  
• W1: National Provider ID: An Optional Data Item Assessments RFA (Reason For Assessment, Section A, item 8) 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 10 and 00 - W1 is optional on all assessments with an assessment reference date (A3a) on or after October 1, 2005
  
• Discharge Tracking Forms (RFA 06, 07, 08) - W1 is optional on all discharge tracking forms with a discharge date (R4) on or after October 1, 2005.
  
• Reentry Tracking Forms (RFA 09) - W1 is optional on all reentry tracking forms with a reentry date (A4a) on or after October 1, 2005. "
  

Ours here is pulled to it and I leave it alone... Again as stated if I were to remove it- it would be a BIG pain in the butt and it wouldn't pass audit nor be accepted by state

what about the update?

"information about assessments and section w requirements.

• section w - is included on all assessments with an assessment reference date (a3a) on or after october 1, 2005, all discharge tracking forms with a discharge date (r4) on or after october 1, 2005 and all reentry tracking forms with a reentry date (a4a) on or after october 1, 2005. however, not all section w fields are required at all times. below is a breakdown that explains what fields in section w are required with each reason for assessment (rfa) in section a, item 8.
  
• w1: national provider id: an optional data item assessments rfa (reason for assessment, section a, item 8) 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 10 and 00 - w1 is optional on all assessments with an assessment reference date (a3a) on or after october 1, 2005
  
• discharge tracking forms (rfa 06, 07, 08) - w1 is optional on all discharge tracking forms with a discharge date (r4) on or after october 1, 2005.
  
• reentry tracking forms (rfa 09) - w1 is optional on all reentry tracking forms with a reentry date (a4a) on or after october 1, 2005. "
  

just to clarify - this is not an update. this was posted in the mds frequently asked questions in 09/08/2005 when the entire section w was added into the mds specs in march '05. at that time filling section w1 was optional. the npi became mandatory 2 years later.

Thank you Talino! Can you point me towards the documentation of when it became mandatory? All I can find is what has already been posted in this thread. I cannot find where it is mandatory.

This is CMS' NPI page. Click on the Final Rule bottom page 36.

There is also some info here.

Thank you for your help, is there any documentation you know of that directly addresses the NPI being mandatory in section w, question 1 of mds assessments?

I have read where you could get a fatal error at some point if the NPI in the mds does not match the header NPI, but now they are just warning messages when the two don't match.

All of the documentation I see on the mandatory use of NPI is in the context of billing procedures. All I can find is the single page where they implement section w effective Oct. 1, 2005 on all assessments and then on the same page they say it is optional on all assessment done on or after Oct. 1, 2005.

Does anyone know how to post a question on the CMS site?