0
No
if the resident (family, significant other, guardian/legally authorized
representative or medical record) indicates there is no need or want of an interpreter to
communicate with a doctor or health care staff.
DiraChart MDS item reference
A1110Section Av1.20.1Manual page A-22
Language
Item Rationale
Quick coding
Answer Codes
Use the item-specific response choices below when structured codes apply.
Response format: Instruction / group heading
1
Yes
if the resident (family, significant other, guardian/legally authorized
representative or medical record) indicates the need or want of an interpreter to
communicate with a doctor or health care staff. Ensure that preferred language is
indicated.
9
Unable to determine
if the resident is unable or declines to respond or
any available source (family, significant other, guardian/legally authorized representative
or medical records) cannot or does not identify the need or want of an interpreter.
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
1. Ask for the resident’s preferred language.
2. Ask the resident if they need or want an interpreter to communicate with a doctor or health
care staff.
3. If the resident—even with the assistance of an interpreter—is unable to respond, a family
member, significant other, and/or guardian/legally authorized representative should be asked.
4. If neither the resident nor a family member, significant other, nor guardian/legally authorized
representative source is able to provide a response for this item, medical documentation may
be used.
5. It is acceptable for a family member, significant other, and/or legally authorized
representative to be the interpreter if the resident is comfortable with it and if the family
member, significant other, and/or guardian/legally authorized representative will translate
exactly what the resident says without providing their interpretation.
A1110: Language (cont.)
Coding Instructions
for A1110A
•
Enter the preferred language the resident primarily speaks or understands after
interviewing the resident and family, significant other and/or guardian/legally authorized
representative and/or reviewing the medical record.
•
If the resident, family member, significant other, guardian/legally authorized
representative and/or medical record documentation cannot or does not identify preferred
language, enter a dash (—) in the first box. A dash indicates “no information.” CMS
expects dash use to be a rare occurrence.
Coding Instructions for A1110B
•
Code 0, No: if the resident (family, significant other, guardian/legally authorized
representative or medical record) indicates there is no need or want of an interpreter to
communicate with a doctor or health care staff.
•
Code 1, Yes: if the resident (family, significant other, guardian/legally authorized
representative or medical record) indicates the need or want of an interpreter to
communicate with a doctor or health care staff. Ensure that preferred language is
indicated.
•
Code 9, Unable to determine: if the resident is unable or declines to respond or
any available source (family, significant other, guardian/legally authorized representative
or medical records) cannot or does not identify the need or want of an interpreter.
Coding Tips
and Special Populations
•
An organized system of signing such as American Sign Language (ASL) can be reported
as the preferred language if the resident needs or wants to communicate in this manner.
MDS item matrixAssessment Applicability
See where this item applies across Nursing Home, Swing Bed, discharge, required-use, OBRA, and program or policy columns.
13 relationships6 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
Item Subset Required Use ISC Skip Patterns
Official CMS source
Verify in the CMS Source
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Reference details
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