Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) Manual

This webpage includes the current version of the MDS 3.0 RAI Manual and associated documents. This page will be updated when:

• An update is made to the MDS RAI 3.0 Manual
• A newer version of the MDS RAI 3.0 Manual becomes available; or
• Important information regarding the MDS 3.0 RAI Manual needs to be communicated.

Older versions of the MDS 3.0 RAI Manual are available for reference on the Archived: MDS 3.0 RAI Manuals webpage.

On this webpage you will also find the most current MDS 3.0 Item Sets and Appendix B which lists all of the State RAI and Automation Coordinators.

What's New –

October 04, 2024

The October update of Appendix B to the MDS 3.0 RAI User’s Manual contains changes to the list of State RAI Coordinators, MDS Automation Coordinators, and 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.

October 1, 2024

NOW AVAILABLE: Draft MDS 3.0 Item Sets version 1.20.1

The draft Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 Item Sets version (v)1.20.1 and Item Matrix are now available in the Downloads section on the Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) Manual page. The MDS Item Sets v1.20.1 will be effective beginning October 1, 2025.

September 3, 2024

NOW AVAILABLE: MDS 3.0 RAI User’s Manual v1.19.1R Hyperlink Update Supplement

The Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) User’s Manual version (v)1.19.1R Hyperlink Update Supplement is now available in the Downloads section on the Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) Manual page.

This is an informational document that includes hyperlinks (links) that have been identified as requiring an update over the lifetime of the MDS 3.0 RAI User’s Manual v1.19.1, effective October 01, 2024. Due to external webpage changes, links may occasionally redirect or become unreachable, or the information provided on the webpage may change. To ensure all links remain current, a list of non-functional/out-of-date links has been compiled, each with an up-to-date replacement link. Replacement pages for each affected page of the MDS 3.0 RAI User’s Manual v1.19.1 can be found following the list.

August 1, 2024

NOW AVAILABLE: Final MDS 3.0 RAI User’s Manual version 1.19.1

The final Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) User’s Manual version (v)1.19.1 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 v1.19.1 will be effective beginning October 01, 2024.

This version of the MDS 3.0 RAI User’s Manual contains guidance to support the addition of new items N0415K: Anticonvulsant and O0350: Resident’s COVID-19 vaccination is up to date. Additionally, the Discharge Goals column in items GG0130: Self-Care and GG0170: Mobility has been removed; and the guidance and examples in Section GG have been revised to reflect the modification. Expanded guidance has been added regarding Manual Assessment Correction/Deletion Requests in Chapter 3, Section X, and Chapter 5. Various minor alignments, clarifications, and corrections have been implemented throughout; specifics can be found in the included chapter/section change tables following the guidance.

June 3, 2024

NOW AVAILABLE: Draft MDS 3.0 RAI User’s Manual version 1.19.1

The draft Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) User’s Manual version (v)1.19.1 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 v1.19.1 will be effective beginning October 01, 2024.

This version of the MDS 3.0 RAI Manual contains guidance to support the addition of new items N0415K: Anticonvulsant and O0350: Resident’s COVID-19 vaccination is up to date. Additionally, the Discharge Goals column in items GG0130: Self-Care and GG0170: Mobility have been removed; and the guidance and examples in Section GG have been revised to reflect the modification. Various minor alignments and corrections have been implemented throughout; specifics can be found in the included chapter/section change tables following the guidance.

May 17, 2024

NOW AVAILABLE: Final MDS 3.0 Item Sets version 1.19.1

The final Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 Item Sets version (v)1.19.1 are now available in the Downloads section on the Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) Manual page. The MDS Item Sets v1.19.1 will be effective beginning October 01, 2024.

January 12, 2024

NOW AVAILABLE: Draft MDS 3.0 Item Sets version 1.19.1

The draft Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 Item Sets version (v)1.19.1 and Item Matrix are now available in the Downloads section on the Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) Manual webpage. The MDS Item Sets v1.19.1 will be effective beginning October 1, 2024.

October 23, 2023

The PDF file labeled “MDS3.0RAIManualv1.18.11R.Errata.v2.October.20.2023” is now available in the Downloads section on the Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) Manual webpage. The errata document contains revisions to the MDS 3.0 RAI Manual version (v)1.18.11R to provide clarity and additional guidance in Section D and Chapter 6 to support item D0100, Should Resident Mood Interview be Conducted? serving as a gateway item for the Resident Mood Interview (PHQ-2 to 9^©) and D0500, Staff Assessment of Resident Mood (PHQ-9-OV^©). Minor revisions also included are corrections to language in Section Q to provide proper guidance on Care Area Assessment (CAA) requirements, corrections to language in Chapter 2 to provide proper guidance on combining Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA) discharge assessments, an updated Internet Quality Improvement & Evaluation System (iQIES) warning error message in Chapter 5, updated screenshots in Section A and Section O, and an updated MDS Item Matrix. The errata document also includes all issues from previous MDS 3.0 RAI Manual v1.18.11R errata releases.

Changed manual pages are marked with the footer “October 2023 (R).”

The errata document begins with a table that lists all identified revisions and the pages to which they have been applied. Following the table are the actual corrected replacement pages for insertion into the printed manual.

October 20, 2023

UPDATED: Final MDS 3.0 Item Sets v1.18.11 v6

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. Changes in this version (listed below) align the item sets with the Errata V3.01.3 for MDS Data Specifications V3.01.1 (FINAL) (PDF) posted September 21, 2023, on the Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 Technical Information webpage. For a full list of changes to the final posted item sets since v1, see the Item Set Change Table Supplement that accompanies the posting. The MDS Item Sets v1.18.11 were effective beginning October 1, 2023.

M0300G1 on NPE                       Replaced erroneous skip pattern <Skip to N2005, Medication Intervention> with the correct one: <Skip to N0415, High-Risk Drug Classes: Use and Indication>.

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                 Removed completion language <Complete only when A0310B = 1 (complete O0400D2 when required by state)>.

O0400 on NP and SP                  Removed completion language <Complete only when A0310B = 1>.

O0420 on NC, NP, and NQ           Removed completion language <Complete only when A0310B = 1>.

September 8, 2023

MDS 3.0 RAI Manual v1.18.11 Errata – Now Available

The PDF file labeled “MDS3.0RAIManualv1.18.11R.Errata.September.8.2023” is now available in the Downloads section on the Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) Manual webpage. The errata document contains revisions to pages in Chapter 4 of the MDS 3.0 RAI Manual version (v)1.18.11R that better align the Care Area Assessments (CAAs) with the Care Area Trigger (CAT) CAAs to the CAT specifications, as well as a revision to Section D that corrects the Coding Instructions guidance for item D0160. Total Severity Score.

Changed manual pages are marked with the footer “October 2023 (R).”

The errata document begins with a table that lists all identified revisions and the pages to which they have been applied. Following the table are the actual corrected replacement pages for insertion into the printed manual.