Missing Medicare, Advance Directive, and COVID-19 Documentation
Summary
The facility failed to maintain required discharge and billing documentation for three residents who were discharged from skilled services. Resident #3 was admitted with diagnoses including myocardial infarction and muscle weakness, had severe cognitive impairment on the BIMS, and was discharged by EMS; Resident #5 was admitted with chronic kidney disease, severe protein calorie malnutrition, and muscle weakness, and was discharged home; Resident #33 was admitted with congestive heart failure and muscle weakness, was cognitively intact on the BIMS, and was discharged home with home health and family. The medical records for all three residents did not contain a Notice of Medicare Non-Coverage (NOMNC) or an Advanced Beneficiary Notice (ABN). The MDS RN stated these residents had not been provided a NOMNC or ABN, and also stated the staff had not provided ABNs to any residents for several months and had not provided NOMNCs to residents receiving Medicare Part A skilled services since 2024. The facility also failed to document that residents were offered assistance with advance directives. Resident #4 was admitted with cerebral infarction, diabetes, and muscle weakness and was cognitively intact on the BIMS; Resident #11 was admitted with cirrhosis of the liver, diabetes, and acute respiratory failure and was cognitively intact on the BIMS; Resident #17 was admitted with urinary tract infection, muscle wasting, and chronic kidney disease and had moderate cognitive impairment on the BIMS. None of these three residents had documentation of an advance directive or documentation that the facility offered assistance or an opportunity to formulate one. The facility policy stated residents or their representatives were to be provided written information about advance directives and offered assistance if they had not established one. The DON confirmed there was no documentation in the records showing the residents had been educated or offered assistance to formulate an advance directive, and stated staff had not provided education to any residents on their right to formulate an advance directive for several months. The facility further failed to document COVID-19 vaccination education and offering of the vaccine for five residents, and had not offered the COVID-19 vaccine to staff since 2022. Resident #7, Resident #11, Resident #19, Resident #24, and Resident #32 all had medical records without documentation that COVID-19 education was provided, that the vaccine was offered, or that declination forms were signed. The Infection Preventionist stated the residents had been educated and declined the vaccine, but also stated she did not obtain declination signatures or document education because she believed it was no longer required. She further stated the facility had not offered COVID education or the vaccine to staff in several years. The Employee Health Nurse and Human Resources Director confirmed the facility had not offered COVID-19 education or vaccination to staff since 2022, and the Administrator confirmed the facility had not provided residents the opportunity to formulate advance directives, had not provided ABNs or NOMNCs, and had not documented resident or staff COVID-19 education or staff vaccination offers.
Penalty
Resources
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