The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) gave states the option to collect Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM) billing codes on OBRA assessments when not combined with a Medicare PPS 5-Day assessment, beginning Oct. 1, 2020. While most of the information used to establish these codes is already on the OBRA assessments, the additional data collection will require both time to complete and training to perform correctly. Notably, the addition of completing the admission performance column for section GG (Functional Abilities) will take the most time. A lack of proper training for the staff completing this section has the potential to cause inaccuracies and confusion among direct care staff. However, the stress and workload can be mitigated with a strong preparation plan and ongoing support to direct care staff. Follow these four steps to ensure your team is ready to complete successfully the documentation and data collection for section GG on OBRA assessments:

1.      Understand how your state is using the information and expected future implications