Even industry experts are often confused by the rules for baseline care plans laid out in F655 in Appendix PP, “Guidance to Surveyors for Long-term Care Facilities,” of the State Operations Manual, particularly what exactly does—and doesn’t—have to be done within that initial 48-hour window post-admission. So AANAC asked the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to confirm or deny three suppositions. The responses provided by a CMS official answer quite a few questions, including how MDS item V0200C2 (Date of Care Planning) fits into the picture and the requirements for providing an updated baseline care plan. Here are their insights.

Baseline care plans have been required since late November 2017, but nurse assessment coordinators (NACs) and other interdisciplinary team (IDT) members are still navigating through a lot of misinformation to learn the rules of the road for F655 (Baseline Care Plans) as detailed in Appendix PP of the State Operations Manual.

Here are seven common myths that need to be vanquished:

There is no one right or wrong way to be a nurse assessment coordinator. The role often varies by state, by facility, and by the individual filling the role.

But, suffice it to say, there are certain elements of the job that are applicable across the board—like, say, completing the MDS, or scheduling assessments.

Tasks like these usually require the quiet solitude of an office with a closed door, or at least a computer to access software. So it’s understandable why many people might associate the role of a NAC with a desk job.

But the truth is, the RAI process is not something that can be completed from your work chair. And if you’re spending the majority of your workday sitting at a desk, you’re missing out on key elements of your roles and responsibilities. The role of the NAC involves a lot of face-to-face interaction, both with the interdisciplinary team and—especially—with the residents.

NACs, like every other member of the facility staff, are in the business of providing person-centered care. The operative word here is “person.” If you’re not interacting with the people, how can you ensure they’re at the center of the care you’re delivering?

The RAI process, just like every component of care provided at the facility, needs to incorporate the resident’s voice and resident’s choice. Here’s how to make sure you’re doing just that:

The baseline care plan requirement under F-tag F655 (Baseline Care Plan) in §483.21 (Comprehensive Resident-Centered Care Plans) of the Code of Federal Regulations goes into effect Nov. 28, 2017. Officials with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) addressed common frequently asked questions (FAQs), as well as follow-up questions from callers, during a Sept. 7 National Provider Call. Topics covered during the call range from working weekends to revising the baseline care plan as needed prior to the development of the comprehensive care plan. Note: Access the call slides, as well as the transcript and audio recording when available, here.