Failure to Complete Accurate PASARR Assessment for Mental Health Diagnosis
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that a Pre-Admission Screening and Resident Review (PASARR) assessment was accurately completed for a resident with a documented mental health diagnosis. The resident was admitted with schizoaffective disorder and was noted to be moderately cognitively impaired, receiving both antipsychotic and antidepressant medications. However, the Level I PASARR completed prior to admission did not indicate the presence of a serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia or a mood disorder, and the section regarding service needs and assessor data was left incomplete. Upon review, facility staff acknowledged that the PASARR was inaccurate and that the necessary sections were not filled out, which should have prompted a referral for a Level II PASARR evaluation. The deficiency was identified through interviews and record reviews, which confirmed that the required screening process was not properly followed according to facility policy and regulatory requirements.