CMS posts the public Quality Measures on Nursing Home Compare, and consumers are able to view the percentage data that your nursing home offered and administered the flu vaccine during the current or most recent influenza season.
The 3.0 Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) manual does not provide specific dates for influenza season. This has prompted Missouri facilities to ask what dates are considered the influenza season in Missouri, in order to correctly code the MDS, which will be reflected in their Quality Measures. Seasonal flu monitoring and reporting to the CDC in Missouri begins in early October and extends well in to the month of May.
For MDS coding purposes, if the resident is not in the facility between October 1 and May 31, you should code in Section O: “Resident not in facility during this year’s flu season.” For residents who are in the facility from October 1 through the last week of May, the facility is required to offer the flu vaccine as long as it is “reasonably available,” which means that it is still available to be ordered from your local pharmacy or supplier.
If you have any questions, you may contact Joan Brundick, State RAI Coordinator, at 573-751-6308 or email joan.brundick@health.mo.gov.