Nurse Executive Certification Practice Exam

When must the IRF-PAI data be submitted to the CMS National Assessment Collection Database after patient discharge?

1. 21 days

2. 27 days

3. 30 days

4. 14 days

The correct answer is: 27 days

The correct timeframe for submitting the Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility Patient Assessment Instrument (IRF-PAI) data to the CMS National Assessment Collection Database after patient discharge is 27 days. This requirement ensures that rehabilitation facilities are providing timely and accurate data for their patient assessments, which is essential for quality reporting and to comply with federal regulations. Submitting the IRF-PAI data within 27 days allows the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to collect necessary information that can impact payment systems, evaluate the quality of care provided, and facilitate further healthcare policy decisions. Timely submission is crucial for facilities to maintain compliance and potentially avoid penalties. Choosing a different number of days would mean missing the CMS deadlines set for data submission, which could have implications for the facility's funding and ability to operate effectively within the guidelines established for inpatient rehabilitation programs.