The Minimum Data Set (MDS) is a tool for implementing standardized assessment and for facilitating care management in nursing homes (NH) and non-critical access hospital swing beds (SB). The new MDS 3.0 has been designed to improve the reliability, accuracy, and usefulness of the MDS, to include the resident in the assessment process, and to use standard protocols used in other settings. The MDS 3.0 user's Manual, called the Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) Manual is available below with the latest updates. 

These files will be updated frequently and each update to files will reflect the date the file was last updated. All files are automatically updated as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) releases revisions to the manual.

Free Electronic Version of the MDS 3.0

MDS 3.0 RAI Manual

Aug 12, 2010 Update: MDS 3.0 RAI Manual Chapter 4 has been reposted and is now available. The following sections in Chapter 3 have also been revised: A, C, D, E, F, G, K, M, O, P, X, and Z.

This file now contains revised versions of the following sections of the RAI Manual: Title Page, Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3 (Introduction, Sections: A. B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, S, V, X and Z), Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6 and Appendices (A, B, C, D, E, G, and H).

MDS 3.0 Training Slides

July 12, 2010 Update: This update includes the following: Chapter 3, Section A and M. This file now contains revised versions of the following sections of the MDS 3.0 Training Slides: Chapter 3, Sections: A, B, C (Staff), C (BIMs), D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, V, X and Z. 

MDS 3.0 Instructor Guides

July 12, 2010, Update: This update includes the following: Chapter 3, Section A. This file now contains MDS 3.0 Instructor Guides to facilitate MDS 3.0 training. Chapter 3, Sections: A, B, C, (Staff), C (BIMs), D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, N, O, P, Q, V X, and Z.

Other Resources

• MDS 3.0 Item Subsets (April 8, 2010): This zip file contains printable documents with the required subset of data items for each MDS 3.0 assessment and tracking document (e.g. admission, quarterly, annual, significant change, discharge, entry, etc).
• MDS 3.0 Satellite Broadcast Part I: This file contains information about the first MDS 3.0 satellite broadcast, which is available in the document labeled "MDS 3.0 Satellite Broadcast Part I."
• MDS 3.0 Q&A (April 12, 2010): Question and Answer Document addressing questions received during the March 2010 RAI Training in Baltimore.
• MDS 3.0 ADL Flowchart (June 14, 2010): An ADL Decision Flowchart to assist with the completion of the ADL assessment with MDS 3.0.
• Consolidated States Section S items (June 5, 2009)
• VIVE - Video on Interviewing Vulnerable Elders
  Please Note: CMS has temporarily removed the link for the video while their IT staff works on reformatting the video so that it is easier to download and view. The video will be available for ordering from CMS beginning the week of August 16, 2010.  The product number is 11479-CD.  You will have to create a log-in account, if you don’t already have one.

Contact: Iara Woody