A2200: Previous Assessment Reference Date for Significant Correction, Step-by-Step

Step-by-Step Coding Guide for A2200: Previous Assessment Reference Date for Significant Correction

1. Review of Medical Records

Objective: Determine the Assessment Reference Date (ARD) of the previous assessment that requires a significant correction. This could be either a comprehensive or quarterly assessment where a major error was discovered.

Actions:

• Review the previous MDS assessments in the resident's file.
• Identify the ARD from the previous comprehensive (A0310 = 01, 03, 04) or quarterly assessment (A0310A = 02) that contains the significant error.

2. Understanding Definitions

A2200: Previous Assessment Reference Date (ARD) refers to the date of the assessment that is being corrected due to a significant error.

Example Scenario:

• Resident A: A significant error is found in a previous quarterly assessment (A0310A = 02) with an ARD of 01-12-2023. The ARD for this prior assessment is entered into A2200 when completing the correction.

3. Coding Instructions

Step-by-Step:

• Step 1: Check if A0310A = 05 (Significant Correction to Prior Comprehensive Assessment) or A0310A = 06 (Significant Correction to Prior Quarterly Assessment).
• Step 2: Locate the ARD of the prior assessment that is being corrected.
• Step 3: Enter the ARD date in A2200. Ensure that the date format is correct (MM-DD-YYYY), such as 01-12-2023.

4. Coding Tips

• Correct ARD: Make sure to enter the ARD of the assessment that had the significant error, not the current assessment being completed.
• Format Consistency: Use two digits for month and day and four digits for the year, including zeros for single-digit months or days (e.g., 01-05-2023).

5. Documentation

Objective: Ensure accurate documentation of the ARD of the previous assessment where a significant error was found, and a correction is being made.

Actions:

• Record the specific ARD of the prior assessment that is being corrected.
• Keep consistent documentation in the resident's medical records to avoid future errors.

6. Common Errors to Avoid

• Incorrect ARD: Do not confuse the current assessment's ARD with the ARD of the previous assessment that is being corrected.
• Incomplete Dates: Ensure the full date (MM-DD-YYYY) is entered to prevent coding errors.

7. Practical Application

Example 1:
A resident had a comprehensive assessment on 03-01-2023, but a significant error was discovered later. The ARD of this prior assessment is 03-01-2023, and this date should be entered in A2200.

Example 2:
A quarterly assessment was completed with an ARD of 06-15-2023. If a significant error is found, this ARD would be entered when correcting the assessment.

Please note that the information provided in this guide for MDS 3.0 Item set A2200 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.