MDS Alert

Learn how to code admission date in new item A1900.

In addition to the many revisions to coding instructions in the RAI manual, the Sept. 15 update also offered up quite a few items in the MDS 3.0 that have changed. In some cases, the changes to items are slight and won’t really affect your coding, but in other cases the items are vastly different — and one item is brand new.

Heads Up: Again, You’ll See Most Changes in Section A

In Section A, the RAI manual update:

• Removed A0310B (06) — Readmission/return assessment:

• Changed the item name of A0410 from Submission Requirement to Unit Certification or Licensure Designation, and revised the wording for each code (1 – 3):

• Added instruction “Skip to A1200, Marital Status” to both No (0) and Unable to determine (9):

• Renamed Item 1600 from Entry Date to Most Recent Admission/Entry or Reentry into this Facility:

• Added a brand new item in Section A, A1900 — Admission Date (Date this episode of care in this facility began):

Item Rationale

• To document the date this episode of care in this facility began.

Coding Instructions

• Enter the date this episode of care in this facility began. Use the format: Month-Day-Year: XX-XX-XXXX. For example, October 12, 2010, would be entered as 10-12-2010.
• The Admission Date may be the same as the Entry Date (A1600) for the entire stay (i.e., if the resident is never discharged).

Watch for More Item Changes in Rest of MDS

In Sections O through Z, CMS made fewer changes per section. The updated RAI manual:

• Changed wording in Item O0250 of “flu season” or “Influenza season” to “influenza vaccination season:”

• Changed Item X0150 description from Type of Provider to Type of Provider (A0200 on existing record to be modified/inactivated):

CMS also added the following description to Item X0150: “This item contains the type of provider identified from the prior erroneous record to be modified/inactivated.”

Also, CMS changed the Coding Instructions for Item X0150 (page X-2) to: “Enter the type of provider code 1 ‘Nursing Home (SNF/NF)’ or code 2 ‘Swing Bed’ exactly as submitted for item A0200 ‘Type of Provider’ on the prior erroneous record to be modified/inactivated.”

• Changed title for Item X0200 from Name of Resident on existing record to be modified/inactivated to Name of Resident (A0500 on existing record to be modified/inactivated):

• Changed title of Item X0300 from Gender on existing record to be modified/inactivated to Gender (A0800 on existing record to be modified/inactivated):

• Changed title of Item X0400 from Birth Date on existing record to be modified/inactivated to Birth Date (A0900 on existing record to be modified/inactivated):

• Changed the title of Item X0500 from Social Security Number on existing record to be modified/inactivated to Social Security Number (A0600A on existing record to be modified/inactivated):

• Changed title of Item X0600 from Type of Assessment on existing record to be modified/inactivated to Type of Assessment/Tracking (A0310 on existing record to be modified/inactivated):
• Changed Coding Instructions headings for sub-items under X0700 — Date on existing record to be modified/inactivated (page X-7):

            o “Assessment Reference Date (A2300 on existing record to be modified/inactivated) — Complete only if X0600F = 99
            o “Entry Date (A2000 on existing record to be modified/inactivated) — Complete only if X0600F = 10, 11, or 12
            o “Entry Date (A1600 on existing record to be modified/inactivated) — Complete only if X0600F = 01”