Starting Oct. 1, 2023, skilled nursing facilities must adopt a new Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) version of the Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0, and a new technology solution will help ease the transition. The ActualMeds InConcert platform tracks medications to offer quality care for patients and reduce reimbursement risk for providers.

The CMS changes come “at a time when nursing resources are already stretched thin and many SNFs don’t have the bandwidth to train employees, implement the new process, or ensure that new standards are met,” says an ActualMeds release.

The ActualMeds InConcert platform shows a complete view of a patient’s validated medications from admission to discharge, which improves accuracy and saves time for care teams. In addition to detailed drug information, InConcert provides for safe patient discharges, along with reporting for MDS documentation. For further accuracy, InConcert is integrated into the long-term care facility’s pharmacy and EHR systems.

When a patient is discharged, ActualMeds’ consultant pharmacists provide reconciled medication lists and resident documentation so that primary care providers and at-home caregivers are up to date on the drugs the patient needs at that time.

McKnight’s Senior Living reported on the new ActualMeds solution and shared a summary of the changes to the MDS tool.

CAST Medication Management Online Selection Tool

For providers that are evaluating medication management tools, the LeadingAge CAST Medication Management Selection Tool can help. It includes a white paper with background on these technology solutions, plus an online selection tool and selection matrix to help providers narrow the many choices available on the marketplace. Case studies show how other providers have used these tools.