On August 18, 2008, CMS posted an initial draft of the detailed comparison between the current version of the MDS (2.0) and the version that will be implemented on October 1, 2009 (3.0). The items in this document are expected to be included in the final version of the MDS 3.0. The final list will be made available to providers and software vendors by March 2009. This 221-page draft crosswalk can be accessed at:

http://www.cms.hhs.gov/NursingHomeQualityInits/Downloads/Draft_MDS2_0_MDS3_0_Crosswalk.pdf

A second draft document (43 pages) posted by CMS details the current MDS 2.0 items that are not expected to be included in the final version of the MDS 3.0. It can be found at:

http://www.cms.hhs.gov/NursingHomeQualityInits/Downloads/Draft_MDS_3_0_Dropped_Items.pdf

To keep up to date with MDS 3.0 information as it is posted, bookmark the following webpage:

http://www.cms.hhs.gov/NursingHomeQualityInits/25_NHQIMDS30.asp

CMS has released the latest MDS coding tip sheet. The topic of this latest tip is height and weight (K2a and K2b).

To locate this tip sheet, go to:

http://www.cms.hhs.gov/nursinghomequalityinits/20_NHQIMDS20.asp

Scroll down the page to Downloads. Beneath that heading sits the link to the 2008 MDS Tip Sheets. This link opens a zipped folder in which you will find the May 2008 Toileting (H3a) as well as the June Height and Weight (K2a/K2b) tip sheets.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a long-awaited proposed regulation that would replace the ICD-9-CM code sets now used to report health care diagnoses and procedures with greatly expanded ICD-10 code sets, effective October 1, 2011.

"Developed almost 30 years ago, ICD-9 is now widely viewed as outdated because of its limited ability to accommodate new procedures and diagnoses. ICD-9 contains only 17,000 codes and is expected to start running out of available codes next year. By contrast, the ICD-10 code sets contain more than 155,000 codes and accommodate a host of new diagnoses and procedures. The additional codes will help to enable the implementation of electronic health records because they will provide more detail in the electronic transactions."

To read the HHS press release, go to:

http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2008pres/08/20080815a.html

To read the proposed regulations currently on display and set to be published in the Federal Register on Friday, August 22, 2008, go to:

http://www.cms.hhs.gov/TransactionCodeSetsStands/Downloads/5010%20display.pdf

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http://www.cms.hhs.gov/TransactionCodeSetsStands/Downloads/ICD%2010%20display.pdf

To learn more about ICD-10, go to:

http://www.who.int/classifications/icd/en/

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently posted information regarding the influenza virus and vaccination. There are publications available as well as key websites for additional information. The link to this information can be found at:

http://www.fda.gov/Cber/flu/flu.htm#tool

In addition there is a vaccination toolkit available for providers at:

http://www.hhs.gov/ophs/programs/initiatives/vacctoolkit/index.html

This toolkit is designed to promote increased vaccination for healthcare personnel. In 2006, the vaccination rate for healthcare personnel (HCP) was less than 60%. "By being vaccinated, HCP decrease their likelihood of contracting influenza and decrease the chance of infecting others. It is imperative for HCP to set an example for the patients they serve by being vaccinated and also by being informed with the most current influenza information in order to properly educate them."

CMS published the final version of the revised F325 and F371 tags on August 1, 2008. These tags become effective September 1, 2008. F326 is deleted and the guidance is incorporated into the F325 (nutrition) tag; F370 is deleted and the guidance is incorporated into the F371 (sanitary conditions) tag. 

Click on this link to download this 58-page document:

http://www.cms.hhs.gov/transmittals/downloads/R36SOMA.pdf