Teri Koch MDS Automation Coordinator Division of Health Quality Assurance Health Standards and Quality Unit MDS Help Desk 2727 Mahan Drive, Mailstop 9A Building 1, Room 100 Tallahassee, FL 32308 (850) 414-0331 / Toll Free 1-800-900-1962 (850) 488-7251 Fax Email Us

All correspondence, documents and information for facilities subject to Minimum Data Set (MDS) requirements are now being distributed via the MDS Dial-Up Network Bulletins Page.

Florida nursing facilities that are Medicare-certified or Medicaid-enrolled are required to electronically transmit to the state database in accordance with the federal automation regulation (effective June 22, 1998). Florida has elected not to pursue transmission of MDS assessments under state submission authority; therefore, Florida will not have SUB_REQ values of 2 on MDS records for residents on non-certified units and those in certain facilities not participating in the Medicare and/or Medicaid nursing home program. Only SUB_REQ=3 records will be accepted to the Florida database.

The submission of the MDS Face Sheet (Sections AB_AC) is requested on all record types, including 06, 07, & 09 tracking forms on a voluntary basis. Florida's requirements for Section T and U are the same as CMS's. Florida utilizes the RUGs III - 1997 Update Quarterly Assessment Form. Section S is required on all record types, including discharge and re-entry tracking forms, and MPAF forms. CMS has indicated that printouts of Florida's Section S must be produced on a separate page. Documents pertaining to Florida's Section S are as follows:

• Florida Section S Data Specifications
• Florida Section S Form
• Florida Section S Instructions

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services MDS 2.0 Information Website at http://cms.hhs.gov/medicaid/mds20.

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services SNF Propective Payment Website at http://cms.hhs.gov/providers/snfpps.

Federal Register Search Web Page at www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html

Iowa Foundation for Medical Care (IFMC) State Technical Support Office at www.qtso.com. IFMC is CMS's contracted agent responsible for supporting the state MDS system.

Access MDS Public Use Reports from the national MDS database at www.cms.hhs.gov/states/mdsreports/default.asp.

Agency for Health Care Administration Long Term Care Unit