Focused MDS and Dementia Care Surveys

 On April 18, 2014 CMS issued S&C 14-22-NH (click here) concerning more thorough examination of antipsychotic prescribing and other dementia care practices in nursing facilities.  There are also two focused survey processes under development: 1) a detailed review of dementia care in nursing centers, including reviewing resident-level and organizational-level processes; and 2) evaluation of MDS 3.0 coding practices and the MDS assessments and the associated care planning for residents.  CMS will identify the specific facilities to be surveyed for each type of focused survey.  CMS plans to pilot these surveys beginning in mid-2014.