DOH Posts Updated Instructions on MDS Section S

The Department of Health (DOH) has posted updated instructions to provide nursing homes with guidance on completing Section S of the Minimum Data Set (MDS) Version 3.0 for assessments dated on or after Oct. 1, 2018.

Section S was revised to add:

• Item S0170 – Advanced Directive, which asks facilities to check off whether the resident has one of the following types of advanced directives (or none of them) in place:

1. Guardian
2. Durable Power of Attorney – Health Care (DPOA-HC)
3. Living Will
4. Do Not Resuscitate
5. Do Not Hospitalize
6. Do Not Intubate
7. Feeding Restrictions
8. Other Treatment Restrictions
9. None of the Above

• Item S0171 – Health Care Proxy, which asks:

1. Resident healthcare proxy exists (Does the resident have a healthcare proxy?)
2. Resident healthcare proxy invoked (Has healthcare proxy been invoked?)

Members that have any questions on Section S should direct them to DOH as follows, with a copy to us:

• For questions on Items S0170A-S0170Z, S0171A-S0171B, S0185, S6500, or S7000, email nhqp@health.ny.gov;
• For questions on Item S8015, email doh.sm.MLTC.System.issues@health.ny.gov; and
• For questions on Items S0160 or S8055, email PRImail@health.ny.gov.

Contact: Dan Heim, dheim@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8866