0
No or unknown
if the resident has not experienced weight loss of 5% or
more in the past 30 days or 10% or more in the last 180 days or if information about prior
weight is not available.
DiraChart MDS item reference
K0300Section Kv1.20.1Manual page K-4
Weight Loss
Item Rationale
Quick coding
Answer Codes
Use the item-specific response choices below when structured codes apply.
Response format: Numeric entry
1
Yes on physician-prescribed weight-loss regimen
if the resident has experienced a weight loss of 5% or more in the past 30 days or 10% or more in the
last 180 days, and the weight loss was planned and pursuant to a physician’s order. In
cases where a resident has a weight loss of 5% or more in 30 days or 10% or more in 180
days as a result of any physician ordered diet plan or expected weight loss due to loss of
fluid with physician orders for diuretics, K0300 can be coded as 1.
2
Yes, not on physician-prescribed weight-loss regimen
if the resident has experienced a weight loss of 5% or more in the past 30 days or 10% or more
in the last 180 days, and the weight loss was not planned and prescribed by a physician.
Item-specific instructions
Coding Guidance
Review what the item asks, how to choose the response, and what should be verified before submission.
Steps for Assessment
This item compares the resident’s weight in the current observation period with their weight at
two snapshots in time:
•
At a point closest to 30 days preceding the current weight.
•
At a point closest to 180 days preceding the current weight.
The resident’s weight captured closest to these two time points are the only two weights
considered for this item, but the resident’s weight should be monitored on a continual basis and
weight loss assessed and addressed on the care plan as necessary.
For a New Admission
1. Ask the resident, family, or significant other about weight
loss over the past 30 and 180 days.
2. Consult the resident’s physician, review transfer
documentation, and compare with admission weight.
3. If the admission weight is less than the previous weight,
calculate the percentage of weight loss.
4. Complete the same process to determine and calculate
weight loss comparing the admission weight to the weight
30 and 180 days ago.
For Subsequent Assessments
1. From the medical record, compare the resident’s weight in
the current observation period to their weight in the
observation period 30 days ago.
2. If the current weight is less than the weight in the
observation period 30 days ago, calculate the percentage of
weight loss.
3. From the medical record, compare the resident’s weight in
the current observation period to their weight in the
observation period 180 days ago.
4. If the current weight is less than the weight in the
observation period 180 days ago, calculate the percentage
of weight loss.
Weight Comparison
Coding Instructions
Mathematically round weights as described in Section K0200B before completing the weight loss
calculation.
•
Code 0, no or unknown: if the resident has not experienced weight loss of 5% or
more in the past 30 days or 10% or more in the last 180 days or if information about prior
weight is not available.
•
Code 1, yes on physician-prescribed weight-loss regimen: if the resident
has experienced a weight loss of 5% or more in the past 30 days or 10% or more in the
last 180 days, and the weight loss was planned and pursuant to a physician’s order. In
cases where a resident has a weight loss of 5% or more in 30 days or 10% or more in 180
days as a result of any physician ordered diet plan or expected weight loss due to loss of
fluid with physician orders for diuretics, K0300 can be coded as 1.
•
Code 2, yes, not on physician-prescribed weight-loss regimen: if the
resident has experienced a weight loss of 5% or more in the past 30 days or 10% or more
in the last 180 days, and the weight loss was not planned and prescribed by a physician.
Coding Tips
•
A resident may experience weight variances in between the snapshot time periods.
Although these require follow up at the time, they are not captured on the MDS.
•
In cases in which multiple weights for the resident may exist during the time period being
evaluated, select the weight on the date closest to the appropriate time point.
•
If the resident is losing a significant amount of weight, the facility should not wait for the
30- or 180-day timeframe to address the problem. Weight changes of 5% in 1 month,
7.5% in 3 months, or 10% in 6 months should prompt a thorough assessment of the
resident’s nutritional status.
•
To code K0300 as 1, yes, the expressed goal of the weight loss diet or the expected
weight loss of edema through the use of diuretics must be documented.
•
On occasion, a resident with normal BMI or even low BMI is placed on a diabetic or
otherwise calorie-restricted diet. In this instance, the intent of the diet is not to induce
weight loss, and it would not be considered a physician-ordered weight-loss regimen.
K0300: Weight Loss (cont.)
MDS item matrixAssessment Applicability
See where this item applies across Nursing Home, Swing Bed, discharge, required-use, OBRA, and program or policy columns.
17 relationships7 groups+
Assessment Applicability
See where this item applies across Nursing Home, Swing Bed, discharge, required-use, OBRA, and program or policy columns.
Nursing Home Subsets
Swing Bed Subsets
Shared NH/SB Subsets
OBRA Stand Alone Assessments
OBRA Admission A=01, B=99, F=99, G=^, H=0
MDS Item Matrix v1.20.1 v4
OBRA Quarterly A=02, B=99, F=99, G=^, H=0
MDS Item Matrix v1.20.1 v4
OBRA Annual / Sig Chg A=03, B=99, F=99, G=^, H=0 A= 04, B=99, F=99, G=^, H=0
MDS Item Matrix v1.20.1 v4
OBRA Discharge A=99, B=99, F=10, 11, G=1, 2, H=0
MDS Item Matrix v1.20.1 v4
Program and Policy Use
D/C Items (Only when A0310F = 10 or 11)
Item Subset Required Use ISC Skip Patterns
Official CMS source
Verify in the CMS Source
Open the mapped manual or item-set location without losing your place on this item page.
Reference details
Deeper help after the reference answer
Open these tools when you need additional drilldown, CAA crosswalk, documentation, source-locator, or AI-context detail.