Re: rehab low?

[Sally Murphy]

When our facility switches to Rehab Low about two weeks before therapy discontinues, we get the doctor's order to change from therapy 5x/week to 3x/week in conjunction with restorative nursing, and we continue receiving payment at the current RUGS level which is usually a Rehab High or Medium.  If we are in an assessment period then it naturally changes to a Rehab Low RUGS.  Just as you may not change the RUGS level to get a higher payment you do not do an assessment just to get a lower payment unless it's to do an OMRA after therapy is completely out.
Sally

[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

Unless the resident's status meets the criteria for a Significant Change in Status Assessment, the next opportunity for a payment rate change would be the next scheduled PPS assessment.  It would not be appropriate to complete a PPS assessment just to change the RUG category.  Chapter 2 of the RAI User's Manual explains in detail the criteria for completing each PPS assessment starting on page 2-27.  A similar type of situation is addressed on page 2-38, "Resident in a Part A Stay Begins Therapy."  It is the same principle - assessments are not to be performed solely to change the RUG.

Rena

Subj: rehab low?
Date: 12/12/03 11:15:21 AM Pacific Standard Time
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Reply-to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent from the Internet



We have a Med A resident that we would like to go to a rehab low ( 3days per week therapy  with restorative nursing) and then discharge from therapies to restorative.  The Therapy provider is telling me that I have to be in a look back period before I can go to a Rehab low RUG.  Can you please clarify this for me and provide me with a link to where I can find this information.  Thanks Dolores RN, MDS

Rena R. Shephard, MHA, RN, FACDONA, RAC-C
President, RRS Healthcare Consulting Services
17210 Russet Street
San Diego, CA 92127
858-592-6799
858-592-6800 (fax)
858-254-0851 (mobile)
[EMAIL PROTECTED]