MDS Alert

Hint: Vaccine status is evaluated, and not just for COVID.

The phrase “Quality Measures” refers to the various categories of data that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) collects and then evaluates to determine the standard of care each nursing home is providing.

Remember, many Quality Measure (QM) Domain Improvements, including updates to thresholds, were paused during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. But now, the “refreshes” are beginning, with the next hitting in October 2022.

Find out how much you know about the current Quality Measures in this quiz and then look forward to a series of articles in coming issues. Find the answers to these questions on page 6.

1. Which of the following are the categories of Quality Measures?
   1. Short stay and long stay
   2. Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B
   3. Medicare and Medicaid
   4. Medicare and Private Pay
       
2. How many short-stay measures does CMS currently check?
   1. 5
   2. 8
   3. 13
   4. 15
      
      
       
3. How many long-stay measures does CMS currently check?
   1. 10
   2. 15
   3. 18
   4. 22
       
4. Which of the following short-stay measures affect a facility’s Five-Star rating?
   1. Percent of Residents Who Received the Seasonal Influenza Vaccine
   2. Percent of Residents Who Were Offered and Declined the Pneumococcal Vaccine
   3. Percent of Residents Who Were Offered and Declined the Seasonal Influenza Vaccine
   4. Percent of Residents Who Made Improvements in Function
       
5. Which of the following long-stay measures affect a facility’s Five-Star rating?
   1. Percent of Residents Who Received the Pneumococcal Vaccine
   2. Percent of Residents Who Were Offered and Declined the Pneumococcal Vaccine
   3. Percent of Residents with a Urinary Tract Infection
   4. Percent of Low Risk Residents Who Lose Control of Their Bowels or Bladder
      
      
       
6. If a resident is in a facility for 98 cumulative days, does their status count as a short-stay or long-stay measure?
   1. Short
   2. Long
       
7. Which of the following QMs are reported on the Care Compare website?
   1. Changes in Skin Integrity Post-Acute Care: Pressure Ulcer/Injury
   2. Percent of Residents Who Received the Pneumococcal Vaccine
   3. Percent of Residents Who Were Offered and Declined the Pneumococcal Vaccine
   4. Percent of Low Risk Residents Who Lose Control of Their Bowels or Bladder
       
8. What dates constitute the 2022 “flu season”?
   1. April 1, 2022 – March 31, 2023
   2. July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023
   3. Sept. 1, 2022 – Aug. 31, 2023
   4. Oct. 1, 2022 – Sept. 30, 2023