GG0130A3: Eating (Discharge Performance), Step-by-Step

Step-by-Step Coding Guide for GG0130A3: Eating (Discharge Performance)

1. Review of Medical Records

Objective: Assess the resident’s ability to feed themselves during the discharge assessment period.

Actions:

• Review the resident’s nursing notes, therapy assessments, and self-care records.
• Observe or inquire about the resident’s ability to bring food and liquid to their mouth and swallow once food is placed in front of them during the last three days before discharge.

2. Understanding Definitions

GG0130A3: Eating (Discharge Performance): This item captures the resident’s ability to use suitable utensils to bring food and liquids to their mouth and swallow them safely.

Key Aspects:

• Bringing food/liquids to the mouth: Includes using utensils or hands.
• Swallowing: Evaluates the resident’s ability to swallow food and liquids without assistance.
• Tube feedings: The administration of tube feedings or parenteral nutrition is excluded from this assessment.

Example Scenarios:

• Resident A can bring food to their mouth and swallow independently, but a nursing assistant helps cut the food. This is coded as 05: Setup or clean-up assistance​.

3. Coding Instructions

Step-by-Step:

• Step 1: Assess the resident’s ability to bring food and liquids to their mouth and swallow them safely.
• Step 2: Identify the level of assistance required:
  • 06: Independent: The resident eats without any help.
  • 05: Setup or clean-up assistance: The resident eats independently but needs help with setup (e.g., cutting food).
  • 04: Supervision or touching assistance: A helper provides verbal cues or light touch.
  • 03: Partial/moderate assistance: The helper provides less than half the effort.
  • 02: Substantial/maximal assistance: The helper provides more than half the effort.
  • 01: Dependent: The resident requires two or more helpers to eat​​.

Illustration:

• Scenario: Resident B can start eating independently but becomes tired after a few bites, requiring assistance from the nursing assistant to finish the meal. This would be coded as 03: Partial/moderate assistance​.

4. Coding Tips

• Finger Foods: If a resident eats finger foods, assess their ability to bring food to their mouth independently.
• Swallowing Assistance: If a resident requires verbal or physical assistance to swallow safely, code according to the type of help provided.

5. Documentation

Objective: Document the resident’s eating ability and any assistance required during the discharge period.

Actions:

• Record the level of assistance provided (e.g., setup or substantial physical help).
• Note any adaptive equipment used, such as special utensils​.

6. Common Errors to Avoid

• Misclassifying Assistance: Ensure that verbal or setup assistance is accurately coded as 05: Setup or clean-up assistance if the resident otherwise feeds themselves independently.
• Incomplete Documentation: Avoid coding GG0130A3 without sufficient information about the resident’s eating performance​.

7. Practical Application

• Example 1: A resident eats independently but needs help cutting their food. This would be coded as 05: Setup or clean-up assistance.
• Example 2: A resident requires the nursing assistant to spoon-feed them due to upper body weakness. This should be coded as 02: Substantial/maximal assistance​.

Please note that the information provided in this guide for MDS 3.0 Item set GG0130A3 was originally based on the CMS's RAI Version 3.0 Manual, October 2023 edition. Every effort will be made to update it to the most current version. The MDS 3.0 Manual is typically updated every October. If there are no changes to the Item Set, there will be no changes to this guide. This guidance is intended to assist healthcare professionals, particularly new nurses or MDS coordinators, in understanding and applying the correct coding procedures for this specific item within MDS 3.0.  

The guide is not a substitute for professional judgment or the facility’s policies. It is crucial to stay updated with any changes or updates in the MDS 3.0 manual or relevant CMS regulations. The guide does not cover all potential scenarios and should not be used as a sole resource for MDS 3.0 coding.  

Additionally, this guide refrains from handling personal patient data and does not provide medical or legal advice. Users are responsible for ensuring compliance with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective practices.