To do or Not to do the MDS - that is the questions

[grace2nurse]

I am in a skilled facility that is also attached to a hospital and part of the long term care. WHen we have a patient that goes from Skilled Care to ICF care - I have been told we don't do another MDS - that the billing office just knows from the census page when to stop billing for skilled days. This seems like an incomplete process. We adjust the care plan and then just wait for the next quarterly. I would like some feedback on how this process of changing level of care goes with your facilities please. What do you do when you change from skilled to ICF please. Thanks

[Ruas61, BSN, RN]

A significant change might need to be considered.

[Talino]

I am in a skilled facility that is also attached to a hospital and part of the long term care. WHen we have a patient that goes from Skilled Care to ICF care - I have been told we don't do another MDS - that the billing office just knows from the census page when to stop billing for skilled days. This seems like an incomplete process. We adjust the care plan and then just wait for the next quarterly. I would like some feedback on how this process of changing level of care goes with your facilities please. What do you do when you change from skilled to ICF please. Thanks

A change in level of care (when resident is discharged from all Part A services) does not require an MDS. The beneficiary receives a formal notification 2 days before Part A is discontinued. An SCSA is required when the condition for a sig. change is met. Your facility is in compliance.