Failure to Timely Transmit MDS Assessments to CMS
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to transmit Minimum Data Set (MDS) Resident Assessment Instruments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) within the required time frames for five residents. Specifically, the MDSs for these residents had Assessment Reference Dates (ARDs) in February, but the submissions were not completed until late April, well beyond the regulatory deadlines. In one case, an MDS was still not completed or transmitted as of the end of April. The facility's CMS Submission Reports confirmed the late submissions, and the MDS Coordinator acknowledged the delays during an interview. The MDS Coordinator explained the required timing process, which allows 14 days after the ARD to complete the assessment, 7 days to code the MDS, and an additional 7 days to transmit the data to CMS. Despite this process, the MDSs for the affected residents were not transmitted within the required time frames, as confirmed by both documentation and staff interview. No information was provided regarding the medical history or condition of the residents at the time of the deficiency.