Get ready for MS-DRGs: Develop an MS-DRG communication plan

Educating your staff about MS-DRGs is a vital step in the evaluation and implementation process. Since CMS has yet to publish its final rule (anticipated in August), the goal at this point should be to gather and distribute information to all staff that will be involved with the transition. This is a mechanism for keeping everyone in the facility apprised of the latest information regarding MS-DRGs, both during the start-up months an on an ongoing basis. A point person can be assigned this task.

We recommend--without bias, of course (wink, wink)--this blog as a source of updated MS-DRG information. Besides this blog, other good sources of information include:

• CMS Regulations and Guidance
• CMS’ public comments site on the proposed rule. As of this writing, CMS has not posted the comments that it collected last month, but will post them soon. Visit http://www.cms.hhs.gov/eRulemaking/ECCMSR/list.asp and search for Proposed Rule 1533-P.

In addition, there are other blogs that occasionally have posts about the proposed rule. You can find these by visiting the links below:

Health Management RX

HFMA Views

Medicare Update

Health Affairs Blog