All correspondence, documents and information for facilities subject to Minimum Data Set (MDS) requirements are now being distributed via the MDS Submission Bulletins Page.

Florida nursing facilities that are Medicare-certified or Medicaid-enrolled are required to electronically transmit in accordance with the federal automation regulation (effective June 22, 1998). Florida has elected not to pursue transmission of MDS assessments under state submission authority; therefore, Florida will not have SUB_REQ values of 2 on MDS records for residents on non-certified units and those in certain facilities not participating in the Medicare and/or Medicaid nursing home program. Only SUB_REQ=3 records will be accepted to the assessment database.

Sign Up for MDS or Swing Bed Alerts
The MDS Helpdesk has an e-mail alert system to notify registered providers or interested parties of "late-breaking" MDS or Swing Bed information. Complete as much information using the registration link above and check MDS or Swing Bed for Provider Type and Opt-In to receive emails or Opt-Out if you wish to stop receiving emails.

MDS 3.0 Information

Florida does not utilize the MDS for Medicaid case-mix reimbursement; therefore, we have no state-specific grouper requirements.

Other than Section S, no additional items will be required on quarterly assessments. CMS approved Florida Section S items for the MDS 3.0 10/1/2010 implementation on ONLY FIVE nursing home ISCs: NC (Comprehensive), NQ (Quarterly), NP (PPS), NT (Tracking) and ND (Discharge). The remaining FOUR may be required in the Spring 2011 (pending CMS approval). We do not require them for Swing Bed assessments.

CMS approved Florida Section S items for the MDS 3.0 4/1/2011 implementation on the remaining FOUR nursing home ISCs: NS (OMRA Start of Therapy), NSD (OMRA Start of Therapy and Discharge), NO (OMRA) and NOD (OMRA Discharge).Therefore, Florida will require Section S items for ALL MDS 3.0 ISCS beginning on 4/1/2011. Section S items include:

• S9020 Facility FRAES Number
• S0140 Physician License Number
• S0141 Physician Last Name

• Florida MDS 3.0 Section S Data Specifications [24.8KB, PDF]
• Florida MDS 3.0 Section S Form [69.8KB, PDF]
• Florida MDS 3.0 Section S Instructions [75.4KB, PDF]

Effective April 1, 2011.   CMS is implementing a new edit (-3811) that prevents a modification record from changing the reason for assessment items, assessment reference date, discharge date, or entry date.  This applies to all records.  As a consequence, Florida will no longer require the submission of a “Return Not Anticipated” discharge assessment following the submission of a “Return Anticipated” discharge assessment in situations where the facility later learned that the resident will not be returning to the facility.   We have requested CMS revise the RAI Manual’s last clarification bullet on pages 2-35 and 2-36 to be consistent with this new requirement.

Note: The MDS 3.0 QM User's Manual can be found at MDS 3.0 Technical Information

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services MDS 3.0 and other Web Links:

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