PDPM & MDS: A Total Evolution of the SNF Payment Model

What Every SNF Needs to Know About MDS Accuracy, PDPM Strategy, and Staying Audit-Ready.

PDPM Isn’t Just a Payment Model — It’s a Documentation Model.

When CMS introduced the Patient Driven Payment Model (PDPM), it wasn’t just about changing reimbursement — it was about changing behavior.

Success under PDPM comes down to one thing: how well your team captures resident characteristics on the MDS.

This white paper breaks down the essential role of MDS accuracy in PDPM reimbursement, outlines the critical changes from RUG-IV, and explains the systems every SNF should have in place to stay compliant and financially healthy.

In this white paper, you’ll learn:

  • The biggest shifts from RUG-IV to PDPM — and why old habits can cost you

  • How PDPM uses resident characteristics (not service minutes) to drive reimbursement

  • Best practices for accurate MDS coding under PDPM

  • Why Section GG and ICD-10 coding are the foundation of your reimbursement

  • What to know about Interim Payment Assessments (IPAs) — and how to avoid missing them

Whether you’re onboarding new staff or re-training an experienced team, this white paper is a must-read for MDS Coordinators, Administrators, and Operators.

Wondering if your MDS practices are PDPM-ready?

Let’s talk about how Gravity Consulting can help.