CMS Reinforces Requirement for Discharge Assessments

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued S&C: 14-43-NH, reinforcing the requirement for MDS 3.0 Discharge assessments to be completed when a resident transfers from a Medicare and/or Medicaid-certified bed to a non-certified bed. Since beds that are non-certified as either Medicare or Medicaid are not subject to the OBRA guidelines for MDS completion, the resident is essentially discharged from any MDS requirement as well. Therefore, CMS requires a discharge assessment be completed upon transfer to the non-certified bed, although the resident may remain in the same facility on the same grounds. Discharge assessments are required assessments under issued MDS and OBRA guidance, and are critical to the Quality Measures calculation.

Contact: Michelle Synakowski, msynakowski@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8850