MDS Training Institute 9

Module 3 - Assessment Reference Date: MDS 3.0/RAI Process

The Skilled Nursing Facility- Assessment Reference Date Scheduling-

Chapter 2 (Page 2-8)
Objectives:

 Review the definition of Assessment Reference Date (ARD)

 Explain the significance of the ARD for MDS 3.0 Assessment types
 Explain and define how to choose the desired ARD date for care planning & or
Reimbursement purposes
 Discuss ARD “ look back period”
 Discuss and practice scheduling ARD for Assessment types

Responsibilities of Nursing Homes for Setting ARD on the MDS

Assessments

Assessment Reference Date- Defined as a date that MDS Team members (MDS Nurse, MDS
Coordinator, or Rehab Department) is allowed to choose on behalf of the facility. This date signifies
the end point that will be utilized for the documentation that will be allowed for use on the MDS 3.0
form starting with section B-7.

The MDS 3.0 tool only allows mostly a 7 day look back of information ending on the chosen ARD
date. The idea is the MDS professional want to choose the best ARD look back period in which the
resident requires the heaviest level of care or highest acuity of care. Etc. Therapy services, wound
care, IV therapy.

The ARD date that is chosen must be included in the look back period through midnight.
Example: if the chosen ARD is August 8, 2016, the look back of information allowed on the MDS 7 day
look back would be 8/8 back to 8/2. Certain questions on the MDS may ask “how is this resident hearing,
speech and vision”. MDS professionals are to rely mostly on information documented to verify the
residents hearing, speech, vision that was documented during that time of 08/02 through 08/08 only.
Information allowed on the MDS data form can be from any source of documentation, ( nurses notes,
therapy notes, physician progress notes for example)

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 MDS Training Institute 10
Module 3 - Assessment Reference Date: MDS 3.0/RAI Process

How to choose the ideal ARD date for your facility:

 Entry Tracking Record – No ARD, this is a tracking record only

 Admission Assessment- Due date to be completed is within 14 day

o The ARD date is a separated date, but can be chosen between day 1-14.
o Realistically, when resident are newly admitted, the optimal ARD date to choose is
unknown since the resident has just arrived in our building.
o Most MDS professionals will tentatively set the ARD in the software and on a calendar
for around day 8. (not required to set day 8, ARD can actually be set between day 1-
14)
o Day 8 is a half way point for a look back period and since the MDS 3.0 form is not to be
completed until after the ARD, choosing day 8 allows 6 additional days to complete
the MDS 3.0 Form
Example: Mr. T was admitted on 08/5/2016 after completing his entry tracking record in the software,
we would then schedule his tentative ARD date for his Admission MDS assessment using day 8. This
ARD date would be 08/12/2016. This Admission MDS must be completed by 08/18/2016. (which
means this MDS can be completed on (08/13, 8/14/, 08/15, 08/16, 08/17, or 08/18)
08/13 is the soonest and 08/18 is the latest date

Choosing 08/12/2016 for Mr. T ARD date means that when the MDS is completed all pertinent
information that is asked on the MDS 3.0 form itself has to end on 08/12/2016 at 12 midnight. Most
sections of the MDS 3.0 form will ask you to take the ARD that you have chosen and “look back” 7
days unless the section tells you otherwise (see the top of section B on your MDS 3.0 form, also take a
look at section O of the MDS 3.0 form, it is a 14 day look back).
The 7 day look back period for Mr. T’s MDS would be 08/12 looking back until 08/06

 From 08/06 thru 08/12, how is his Hearing, Speech, and Vision documented-Section B
 From 08/06 thru 08/12, how is his behaviors documented- Section E