Minnesota will Require the Optional State Assessment Effective Oct. 1, 2023

Posted in INDUSTRY NEWS, Long-Term Care

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP
Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare

Beginning Oct. 1, 2023, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will no longer support Resource Utilization Group (RUG-IV) grouper calculations for OBRA and PPS assessments.

In consultation with Minnesota Nursing Facility stakeholders, adopting the use of the Optional State Assessment (OSA) was determined to be the best interim solution to allow continued reimbursement based on the RUG-IV case mix classification system. Implementation of the OSA provides the opportunity to continue collecting data for additional analysis and discussion with stakeholders to move toward the goal of an equitable transition to the Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM) reimbursement methodology.

Nursing home administrators, directors of nursing, Minimum Data Set (MDS) nurses, residents, families, and other interested parties should review the following changes to the MDS 3.0 scheduling requirements in Minnesota.

As of Oct. 1, 2023, Minnesota Nursing Facilities will be required to complete the OSA.

  • OSA must be completed each time an assessment is completed: Beginning Oct. 1, Minnesota nursing facilities will be required to complete the Optional State Assessment (OSA) each time a comprehensive (admission, annual, significant change in status, and significant correction of a prior comprehensive) and non-comprehensive (quarterly and significant correction of a prior quarterly) assessment is completed.
  • New Section S added: Minnesota also has added two new Section S items to the MDS, the start and end dates of isolation will be required.
  • Ensure your software vendor is aware of changes to MDS: Facilities will need to ensure that their software vendor (are) also aware of this change.

Sign up for HRD Case Mix program updates to join August Webinars

The Case Mix Review Program staff will conduct three webinars regarding this requirement in late August and September. Facilities will be notified by email with the webinar details and registration information. If you do not receive emails from the Minnesota Case Mix Review Program, you can sign up to receive notifications at Subscribe to Case Mix Review Updates. 

Any questions regarding the training opportunities should be directed to health.mds@state.mn.us.