MDS Alert

Question: If a Part A resident expires, do I need to complete a Part A PPS Discharge? I’ve read that only the “Death Tracker” is required in this situation, but I’m not sure.

Utah Subscriber

Answer: A Part A PPS Discharge may be required, but it depends on when the resident dies.

The Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) Manual says, “If the End Date of Most Recent Medicare Stay (A2400C) occurs on the same day that the resident dies, a Death in Facility Tracking Record is completed, with the Discharge Date (A2000) equal to the date the resident died. In this case, a Part A PPS Discharge assessment is not required,” on page A-36 (emphasis original).