The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a
draft version of the Minimum Data Set (MDS) Nursing Home Comprehensive (NC) item set version 1.18.11. This NC item set is to be used for both SNF PPS and OBRA assessments. These items were intended to be implemented in October 2020, but that implementation was delayed due to COVID-19 and other technical issues.
Many of the changes are consistent with those adopted in the FY 2023 SNF PPS
Final Rule including:
- New transfer of health information (medication list) to a subsequent provider or patient/family at discharge MDS items needed for the new transfer of health information SNF Quality Reporting Program (QRP) measures.
- Some new or revised MDS items (i.e., patient demographic and social determinants of health items) so that all PAC setting items for these domains are standardized.
Additionally, the draft NC item set also includes significant changes for the reporting of resident function on OBRA assessments as CMS has indicated would be occurring. These proposed changes are:
- Elimination of Section G function items
- Revision of Section GG items for use in all OBRA assessments for function. Most notably – CMS intends to standardize Section GG to have the same 3-day assessment windows for both PPS and OBRA assessments
CMS plans to release the final version of all the MDS item sets later in 2022, which will be effective beginning October 1, 2023. Additionally, as indicated in the Final Rule, CMS will release a draft of the updated version of the MDS Manual 3.0 v1.18.11 in early 2023 and provide training and education with sufficient lead time for SNFs to prepare for the October 1, 2023, implementation date.