Failure to Timely Submit MDS Assessments
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure timely electronic submission of required Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessments for one resident, as mandated by federal regulations and outlined in the Long-Term Care Facility Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) User's Manual. Specifically, the facility did not transmit several MDS assessments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Internet Quality Improvement and Evaluation System (iQIES) within the required 14-day timeframe. The late submissions included a discharge return anticipated MDS transmitted 4 days late, another discharge return anticipated MDS transmitted 3 days late, an entry tracking MDS transmitted 18 days late, and a significant change in status MDS transmitted 3 days late. These findings were confirmed through record review, staff interviews, and examination of the federal database for long-term care surveys. An administrative nurse acknowledged during an interview that the MDS assessments for the resident in question were transmitted after the required deadlines, confirming the facility's noncompliance with timely data submission requirements.