In the world of skilled nursing facilities, one important measure of success during a Medicare subacute rehab stay is the new discharge function score. This metric evaluates how well residents progress during their stay, comparing their functional abilities on admission to those at discharge. It provides valuable insight into the rehabilitation process, highlighting whether patients are achieving expected improvements based on their individual presentations. While Section GG has traditionally been used to measure progress, discharge function score goes a step further, adjusting for factors like age, comorbidities, and prior levels of function.
The new measure gives a more realistic view of progress by considering each patient’s unique situation. With discharge function score now integrated into key value-based care programs like the five-star rating and QRP, it has become a critical tool for assessing the effectiveness of subacute rehab programs.
Accuracy in coding Section GG, collaboration across departments, and ongoing training are key to improving discharge function scores. To ensure accuracy, it’s crucial that all staff involved in coding Section GG are well-trained and have a thorough understanding of the RAI Manual. Regular, structured interdisciplinary team (IDT) meetings are vital for determining a patient’s usual performance. A strong commitment to accurate, collaborative, and ongoing processes will lead to better discharge function scores and more effective rehab planning overall.
