Archived: MDS 3.0 RAI Manuals

MDS 3.0 RAI Manual Archive

Below is an archive of previous versions of the Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) Manual and related documents. These previous versions are posted for reference only and should not be considered a current reference for the MDS 3.0 RAI Manual. Active versions of MDS 3.0 RAI Manual are posted on the MDS 3.0 RAI Manual webpage.

August 24, 2023

UPDATED: Final MDS 3.0 Item Sets v1.18.11 v5

The final Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 Item Sets version (v)1.18.11 have been updated and are now available in the Downloads section on the Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) Manual page. All item sets have been replaced with revised versions. The list below highlights all substantive changes or corrections since the final versions were first posted on April 3^rd. Additionally, a number of other items (not listed) have had small changes to their formatting. This will be the final version of the MDS Item Sets v1.18.11 that will be effective beginning October 1, 2023.

A1005 on IPA     Corrected erroneous lettering of final subitem (changed A1005Z [wrong] to A1005Y [correct]).

A1200 on NC and NQ                 Corrected erroneous numbering scheme for responses (changed from 0-4 [wrong]) to 1-5 [correct]). 

A2121 on NQ                               Corrected typo (<Reference>) in choice 0.

B1300 on NPE                              Changed completion language to remove <Complete only if A0310G = 1>.

D0100 on NPE                              Changed completion language to remove <If A0130G=2 Skip to D0700. Otherwise.>

D0100 on NPE                              Corrected incorrect skip pattern in choice 0.

D0100 on IPA                               Removed erroneous skip pattern language.

D0150B on NQ                             Removed <or appearing> from item language.

D0700 on NPE                              Changed completion language to remove <Complete only if A0310G = 1>.

D0700 on ND                               Added completion language <Complete only if A0310G = 1>.

GG0130, Column 3, on NPE      Changed completion language to remove <and A2105 is not = 04>.

GG0170, Column 3, on NPE      Changed completion language to remove <and A2105 is not = 04>.

GG0170, Column 3, on SD         Corrected capitalization in item title from <stay> to <Stay> (on first page of two).

I0020 on IPA                                Corrected numbering of final option from 99 to 13.

J0530 on SD                                 Removed erroneous option 0 and corrected typo (<activites>) in question that the resident is being asked.

J0600 on NP                                 Corrected label for boxes from <Enter Code> to <Enter Rating>.

J1400 on NP                                 Corrected typo (inserted missing closing parenthesis at end of item text).

M0300 on SP                               Added missing item title to heading at top of page.

M0300C on NPE                          Corrected typo (removed period at end of item).

M1040 on NC                              Corrected typo in label in the gray area above subitem A (made <Problems> plural).

O0300A on NP and NQ              Corrected transposition of verbs in skip patterns (changed <Skip> to <Continue> in choice 0 and <Continue> to <Skip> in choice 1).

O0400 on NC and NQ                 Changed completion language to add <complete O0400D2 when required by state)>.

O0500 on IPA, NP, and SP         Removed extra box at left (items O0500D–O0500J had eight boxes for only seven items in the list) and realigned boxes on left with items on right.

X1100E on SD    Restored this subitem, which was missing in previous version.

August 22, 2023

NOW AVAILABLE: Final MDS 3.0 RAI User’s Manual v1.18.11

The final Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) User’s Manual version (v)1.18.11 is now available in the Downloads section on the Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) Manual page. The MDS 3.0 RAI User’s Manual v1.18.11 will be effective beginning October 1, 2023.

This version of the MDS 3.0 RAI Manual contains substantial revisions related to the Improving Medicare Post-Acute Care Transformation Act of 2014 (IMPACT Act), which requires that standardized assessment items be collected across Post-Acute Care (PAC) settings. Standardized data will enable cross-setting data collection, outcome comparison, exchangeability of data, and comparison of quality within and across PAC settings. Additionally, the language of the manual has been updated throughout to be gender neutral. Guidance and examples in numerous chapters and appendices have been revised for clarification and to reflect current regulations and best practices. Due to the scope of the revisions, CMS will not issue Replacement Pages for v1.18.11; those wishing to continue using a physical copy of the manual are encouraged to print the new version.

A document listing all changes from the MDS 3.0 RAI Manual v1.18.11 draft version to the final version is available for reference in the Downloads section on the Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) Manual page.

August 15, 2023

UPDATED: Optional State Assessment (OSA) Item Set and OSA Manual

The Optional State Assessment (OSA) Item Set and OSA Manual have been updated, and the updated versions are now available in the Downloads section on the Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) Manual page. Some items, listed below, have been corrected, and a number of other items have had small changes to their formatting. Screenshots in the manual have been updated, where needed, to reflect these changes.

The OSA is not a Federally required assessment; rather, it may be required in some States for payment purposes. Each State determines whether the OSA is required and if so, when the assessment must be completed. For questions regarding completion of the OSA, please contact your State Survey Agency.

The following corrections were made:

A0700        The word <patient> was changed to <recipient>.

C0300A      Erroneous numbering (1–4) was changed to the correct numbering (0–3). 

C0500         The wording of the instruction was changed from <Enter Code> to <Enter Score>.

O0100   The label above subitem Z was corrected from <Other> to <None of the above>.

August 14, 2023

Final MDS 3.0 RAI User’s Manual v1.18.11

Earlier today, messaging was posted on several Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) pages announcing the “Final” version of the Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) User’s Manual version (v)1.18.11. This messaging and the associated file was posted in error and is not the Final version the MDS 3.0 RAI User’s Manual v1.18.11. CMS expects to post the final version before the end of August.

July 07, 2023

UPDATED: Final MDS 3.0 Item Sets v1.18.11 v4

The final Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 Item Sets version (v) 1.18.11 have been updated and are now available in the Downloads section on the Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) Manual page. The Interim Payment Assessment (IPA), Nursing Home Prospective Payment System (PPS) (NP), and Swing Bed PPS (SP)Item Sets have been replaced with revised versions; the remaining item sets remain unchanged from the last posted version. The MDS Item Sets v1.18.11 will be effective beginning October 1, 2023.

The Item set edits are noted below.

IPA item set

O0500 contained an additional response box which was removed

A1005 response option Z. was changed to response option Y.

NP item set

O0500 contained an additional response box which was removed

SP item set

O0500 contained an additional response box which was removed

June 23, 2023

UPDATED: Final MDS 3.0 Item Sets version 1.18.11 v3

The final Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 Item Sets version (v)1.18.11 have been updated and are now available in the Downloads section on the Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) Manual page. The Nursing Home Comprehensive (NC) and Nursing Home Quarterly (NQ) Item Sets have been replaced with revised versions; the remaining item sets remain unchanged from the last posted version. The MDS Item Sets v1.18.11 will be effective beginning October 1, 2023.

The change that was made involved A1200. Marital Status.  It was noted that the item response code numbering was changed in error on the NC and NQ item sets only.  This has been corrected.

June 7, 2023

UPDATED: Final MDS 3.0 Item Sets version 1.18.11

The final Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 Item Sets version (v)1.18.11 have been updated and are now available in the Downloads section on the Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) Manual webpage. The Nursing Home Prospective Payment System (PPS) (NP), Nursing Home Part A PPS Discharge (NPE), and Swing Bed Discharge (SD) Item Sets have been replaced with revised versions; the remaining item sets remain unchanged from the last posted version. The MDS Item Sets v1.18.11 will be effective beginning October 1, 2023.

The item set edits are noted below and on the revised MDS 3.0 Item Set Change History v1.18.11v2.pdf. These edits are also reflected in the Final MDS Data Submission Specifications V3.01.0 posted on the Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 Technical Information webpage.

NPE item set

B1300: Completion language removed

D0100: Part of the completion language was removed

D0700: Completion language removed

ND item set

D0700: Completion language added

SD item set

X1100E: added to item set

April 24, 2023

NOW AVAILABLE: OSA Item Set and OSA Manual

The Optional State Assessment (OSA) Item Set, OSA Manual, and OSA Change History table are now available in the Downloads section. The OSA is not a Federally required assessment; rather, it may be required in some States for payment purposes. Each State determines whether the OSA is required and if so, when the assessment must be completed. For questions regarding completion of the OSA, please contact your State Survey Agency.

April 3, 2023

NOW AVAILABLE: Final MDS 3.0 Item Sets version 1.18.11

The final Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 Item Sets version v1.18.11 are now available in the Downloads section. The MDS Item Sets v1.18.11 will be effective beginning October 1, 2023.

April 3, 2023

NOW AVAILABLE: Draft MDS 3.0 RAI User’s Manual version 1.18.11

The draft Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) User’s Manual version (v)1.18.11 is now available in the Downloads section. The MDS 3.0 RAI User’s Manual v1.18.11 will be effective beginning October 1, 2023.

This version of the MDS 3.0 RAI Manual contains substantial revisions related to the Improving Medicare Post-Acute Care Transformation (IMPACT) Act of 2014, which requires that standardized assessment items be collected across Post-Acute Care (PAC) settings. Standardized data will enable cross-setting data collection, outcome comparison, exchangeability of data, and comparison of quality within and across PAC settings. Additionally, the language of the manual has been updated throughout to be gender neutral. Guidance and examples in numerous chapters and appendices have been revised for clarification and to reflect current regulations and best practices. Due to the scope of the revisions, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will not issue Replacement Pages for v1.18.11; those wishing to continue using a physical copy of the manual are encouraged to print the new version.

February 23, 2023

iQIES for Minimum Data Set (MDS) Submission Release on April 17, 2023

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is excited to announce that the transition of the Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessment submission and reporting functionality to the Internet Quality Improvement and Evaluation System (iQIES) will occur on April 17, 2023.

To properly prepare for the transition, the QIES Assessment Submission and Processing (ASAP) system for MDS submissions will be turned off on Thursday, April 13 at 8:00 pm EST. Providers should submit completed MDS records prior to 8:00 pm EST on April 13th to QIES (ASAP) or wait until 8:00 am EST on April 17th to submit data in iQIES. Providers are expected to take into account all requirements when determining the date they submit completed MDS records, including but not limited to, submission timeliness, claims processing, and care planning requirements.

CMS will provide additional information through various email notifications regarding training, technical guidance, details on what to expect, and more.

Register for an iQIES Account

Please note that failure to obtain access to iQIES prior to April 17, 2023 will impact your ability to submit MDS records. As mentioned in previous communications, nursing home and swing bed providers who are required to submit data to CMS must have at least one staff person assigned and approved as the facility Provider Security Official (PSO), who works for the provider and is responsible for approving all other users for their facility. For information and instructions to register for an iQIES account, please visit: https://qtso.cms.gov/news-and-updates/action-required-register-iqies-account.

December 23, 2022

NOW AVAILABLE: Draft MDS 3.0 Item Sets v1.18.11

The draft Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 Item Sets version (v)1.18.11 are now available in the Downloads section. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) plans to release the final version of the MDS Item Sets in early 2023. The MDS Item Sets v1.18.11 will be effective beginning October 1, 2023.

December 17, 2021

Update to Appendix B of the RAI 3.0 User’s Manual

The December update of Appendix B to the Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) 3.0 User’s Manual contains changes to the list of State RAI Coordinators, Minimum Data Set (MDS) Automation Coordinators, RAI Panel members, and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) locations and contacts. To ensure accurate formatting, use a current version of Adobe Acrobat Reader to view this PDF. Web-based or mobile browser plug-ins may affect how the file is displayed. The file is located in the Downloads section below.

March 19, 2020

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is delaying the Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 v1.18.1 release, which had been scheduled for October 1, 2020, in response to stakeholder concerns. The MDS item sets are used by Nursing Home and Swing Bed providers to collect and submit patient data to CMS. This MDS data informs payment, quality, and the survey process.

In December of 2019, CMS posted a draft of the MDS 3.0 item set v1.18.0 and received feedback from our stakeholders. We would like to thank the stakeholders for sharing their concerns regarding the proposed changes to the MDS 3.0 item sets and more specifically the removal of the Section G items from OBRA assessments.

The MDS changes CMS planned for October 1, 2020, will now be delayed. CMS staff are actively engaged in discussions with various stakeholders, regarding the various changes, the impacts of these changes, as well as the compressed timeline to educate and train facility staff and update software and IT systems.

Please direct any comments or questions regarding the above information to MDSCodinganswers@cms.hhs.gov mailbox.