Learning Opptie #2

WE LOVE OUR THERAPISTS! To learn more about the February Learning “Oppties” program, please read the introductory articleposted January 31. Today’s learning opptie is related to a tool used in Skilled Nursing Facilities to report the assessment of care and services required. It’s called the Minimum Data Set or MDS. The purpose of this manual is to offer guidance on how to code and use the Minimum Data Set Version 3.0 (MDS 3.0) correctly and effectively. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has an electronic version of the MDS 3.0 RAI manual available on the website at cms.gov. Your MDS Nurse also uses an RAI Manual and will know the answers (or at least how to find the answers) to questions you may have regarding the MDS. Did you know that, according to the RAI Manual, the time required to adjust equipment or otherwise prepare the treatment area for skilled rehabilitation service is the set-up time and is to be included in the count of minutes of therapy delivered to the resident? Set-up may be performed by the therapist, therapy assistant, or therapy aide.

In Chapter 3, Section O, on page 18, the manual talks about recording minutes for set-up time and gives specific instructions on HOW to record set-up time. Use these instructions to answer the following question: Under which mode of treatment (individual, concurrent or group) should set-up time be recorded? Please be sure to blog your answer in the reply space below. Include your first and last name, your facility and your e-mail address (your e-mail address will not be visible on the website), to be entered to win your “Opptie”. Also, if you have any suggestions regarding some continuing education courses you’d like to see us bring to your area, please include those ideas in your blog, as well. Thank you for participating and HAVE FUN!

26 thoughts on “Learning Opptie #2


  1. Set-up time shall be recorded under the mode for which the resident receives initial treatment when he/she receives more than one mode of therapy per visit.

    Code as individual minutes when the resident receives only individual therapy or individual therapy followed by another mode(s);

    Code as concurrent minutes when the resident receives only concurrent therapy or concurrent therapy followed by another mode(s); and

    Code as group minutes when the resident receives only group therapy or group therapy followed by another mode(s).

    1. WOW! You are right on it, Betsy Englebarts. Thank you for your response to our Learning “Oppties” program. May I ask where you found the information? Please encourage your team to check out the Learning “Oppties”. We will be giving individual awards, as well as team awards. There are random categories, so you don’t want to ever stop! Hey, I have a bonus question for you…How is “Concurrent Therapy” defined in the RAI Manual? (hint: RAI Manual for MDS 3.0, v1.07, Chapter 3, Section O, page 16). Thank you, again, for participating, Betsy. Deb Bielek, Therapy Resource

  2. Set-up time shall be recorded under the mode for which the resident receives initial treatment when he/she receives more than one mode of therapy per visit.

    Code as individual minutes when the resident receives only individual therapy or individual therapy followed by another mode(s);

    Code as concurrent minutes when the resident receives only concurrent therapy or concurrent therapy followed by another mode(s); and

    Code as group minutes when the resident receives only group therapy or group therapy followed by another mode(s).

    1. TIM, YOU GUYS ARE ON A ROLL! Premier Care is Rocking it! Thank you so much for participating and I love the team spirit. I feel an “opptie” coming on 🙂 Thank you for your response. It is right on. May I ask where you found the information? Thank you, again, for participating in our Learning “Oppties” program. Deb Bielek, Therapy Resource

  3. Set-up time shall be recorded under the mode for which the resident receives initial treatment when he/she receives more than one mode of therapy per visit.

    Code as individual minutes when the resident receives only individual therapy or individual therapy followed by another mode(s);

    Code as concurrent minutes when the resident receives only concurrent therapy or concurrent therapy followed by another mode(s); and

    Code as group minutes when the resident receives only group therapy or group therapy followed by another mode(s).

    1. YEA, Katie! Did Tim give you the answer? Or did you all research it together? The bottom line is you are RIGHT ON IT! Thank you so much for participating in our Learning “Oppties” program. Premier Care is ON FIRE!!! Thank you, again, and keep on rolling. Deb Bielek, Therapy Resource

  4. Set-up time shall be recorded under the mode for which the resident receives initial treatment when he/she receives more than one mode of therapy per visit.

    Code as individual minutes when the resident receives only individual therapy or individual therapy followed by another mode(s);

    Code as concurrent minutes when the resident receives only concurrent therapy or concurrent therapy followed by another mode(s); and

    Code as group minutes when the resident receives only group therapy or group therapy followed by another mode(s).

    1. Marissa,

      WOW! Thank you so much for participating in our Learning “Oppties” program. I have a question for you…were you aware of the rules for set-up or did you get more clarity about this billing opportunity after doing the research? Thank you so much for your response and the team effort. GO PREMIER CARE! Deb Bielek, Therapy Resource

  5. Set-up time shall be recorded under the mode for which the resident receives initial treatment when he/she receives more than one mode of therapy per visit.

    Code as individual minutes when the resident receives only individual therapy or individual therapy followed by another mode(s);

    Code as concurrent minutes when the resident receives only concurrent therapy or concurrent therapy followed by another mode(s); and

    Code as group minutes when the resident receives only group therapy or group therapy followed by another mode(s).

    1. Hi, Julie!

      YOU ARE ON TOP OF IT! Thank you so much for another day of participation in our Learning “Oppties” program. And, I am excited to see that your entire team is getting involved. I hope you’ll take advantage of the opportunity to incorporate set-up time into your treatment billing when it’s appropriate. REMEMBER, THOUGH, IT IS NOT ALLOWED BY MEDICARE PART B RULES TO COUNT SET-UP TIME IN THE BILLING. Please share with your team. Thank you, again, for your participation. Deb Bielek, Therapy Resource

  6. Set-up time shall be recorded under the mode for which the resident receives initial treatment when he/she receives more than one mode of therapy per visit.

    Code as individual minutes when the resident receives only individual therapy or individual therapy followed by another mode(s);

    Code as concurrent minutes when the resident receives only concurrent therapy or concurrent therapy followed by another mode(s); and

    Code as group minutes when the resident receives only group therapy or group therapy followed by another mode(s).

    1. Hi, Don.

      YOUR TEAM IS ON A ROLL AND YOUR ANSWER IS RIGHT ON! Where did you end up finding the information? Was it your MDS Coordinator? A therapy team member? CMS.GOV RAI Manual for MDS 3.0 v1.07? Thank you for taking the time to participate in our Learning “Oppties” program. GO PREMIER CARE! Deb Bielek, Therapy Resource

  7. Set-up time shall be recorded under the mode for which the resident receives initial treatment when he/she receives more than one mode of therapy per visit.

    Code as individual minutes when the resident receives only individual therapy or individual therapy followed by another mode(s);

    Code as concurrent minutes when the resident receives only concurrent therapy or concurrent therapy followed by another mode(s); and

    Code as group minutes when the resident receives only group therapy or group therapy followed by another mode(s).

    1. GO, TODD! Yes. You have the answer. I am excited to see your consistent involvement in the Learning “Oppties” program! And, Premier Care, is by far and away the team with the most consistent therapy team involvement so far! Keep on rolling. I will be announcing week one “Opptie” winners on Monday, so stay-tuned! Thank you, again for your participation. Deb Bielek, Therapy Resource

  8. Set-up time shall be recorded under the mode for which the resident receives initial treatment when he/she receives more than one mode of therapy per visit.

    Code as individual minutes when the resident receives only individual therapy or individual therapy followed by another mode(s);

    Code as concurrent minutes when the resident receives only concurrent therapy or concurrent therapy followed by another mode(s); and

    Code as group minutes when the resident receives only group therapy or group therapy followed by another mode(s).

    1. WOW, Manuel. It is so cool to see the partnership among the therapy team at Premier Care! Thank you so much for your participation in our Learning “Oppties” program. Your answer is correct. Have you been incorporating set-up time into your billing? If not, be sure to record the minutes in your billing so it can be counted! REMEMBER, THOUGH, MEDICARE PART B DOES NOT ALLOW SET-UP TIME TO BE COUNTED INTO THE BILLING, so be sure to keep that piece straight and share that information with your team. GO, PREMIER CARE! Thank you, again, for your participation. Deb Bielek, Therapy Resource

  9. Set-up time shall be recorded under the mode for which the resident receives initial treatment when he/she receives more than one mode of therapy per visit.

    Code as individual minutes when the resident receives only individual therapy or individual therapy followed by another mode(s);

    Code as concurrent minutes when the resident receives only concurrent therapy or concurrent therapy followed by another mode(s); and

    Code as group minutes when the resident receives only group therapy or group therapy followed by another mode(s).

    1. Hi, Trent.

      Thank you so much for participating in our Learning “Oppties” program. This program will continue throughout the month of February and I can see your team at Premier Care is off to a stellar start! Your answer is right on target and I can see you used the RAI Manual for MDS 3.0 to answer our challenge. Please stay tuned for other Learning “Oppties” to come. Thank you, again, for your participation. Deb Bielek, Therapy Resource

  10. Set-up time shall be recorded under the mode for which the resident receives initial treatment when he/she receives more than one mode of therapy per visit.

    Code as individual minutes when the resident receives only individual therapy or individual therapy followed by another mode(s);

    Code as concurrent minutes when the resident receives only concurrent therapy or concurrent therapy followed by another mode(s); and

    Code as group minutes when the resident receives only group therapy or group therapy followed by another mode(s).

    1. Wow, Peter. I don’t know how you did it, but I think nearly your entire team has participated in our Learning “Oppties” program! I can definitely see a team award on the horizon 🙂 Thank you so much for your participation. Your answer is right on. Stay tuned for tomorrow. By the way, this week’s “Oppties” winners will be announced on Monday. Deb Bielek, Therapy Resource

  11. Set-up time shall be recorded under the mode for which the resident receives initial treatment when he/she receives more than one mode of therapy per visit.
    Code as individual minutes when the resident receives only individual therapy or individual therapy followed by another mode(s);
    Code as concurrent minutes when the resident receives only concurrent therapy or concurrent therapy followed by another mode(s); and
    Code as group minutes when the resident receives only group therapy or group therapy followed by another mode(s).

    1. SONYA, YOU ARE ON A ROLL! Thank you so much for participating once again in our Learning “Oppties” program. Deb Bielek, Therapy Resource

  12. To answer the question:
    Set-up time shall be recorded under the mode for which the resident receives initial treatment when he/she receives more than one mode of therapy per visit.

    Code as individual minutes when the resident receives only individual therapy or individual therapy followed by another mode(s);

    Code as concurrent minutes when the resident receives only concurrent therapy or concurrent therapy followed by another mode(s); and

    Code as group minutes when the resident receives only group therapy or group therapy followed by another mode(s).

    We do incorporate set up time depending on the payer source!!!

    1. Way to go, Christina! I am psyched you are participating in our Learning “Oppties” program! You have been entered to win an “Opptie”. I am glad to hear you are incorporating set-up time into your bill, based on the payer source!!! Winners of his week’s Opptie awards will be posted on Monday, so please stay tuned! Thank you, again, for participating. Deb Bielek, Therapy Resource

  13. Set-up time shall be recorded under the mode for which the resident receives initial treatment when he/she receives more than one mode of therapy per visit.

    Code as individual minutes when the resident receives only individual therapy or individual therapy followed by another mode(s);

    Code as concurrent minutes when the resident receives only concurrent therapy or concurrent therapy followed by another mode(s); and

    Code as group minutes when the resident receives only group therapy or group therapy followed by another mode(s).

    1. Robin,

      Awesome work! Did you identify the answer through the online MDS 3.0 RAI Manual or another source? Thank you so much for continuing to participate in our Learning “Oppties” program. You have been entered to win an award. This week’s winners will be announced on Monday. Deb Bielek, Therapy Resource

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