The RAI Manual is CMS’s official guide to MDS 3.0. This  manual contains six chapters plus appendices.  Chapter 3 includes step-by-step instructions for completing each section of the MDS 3.0.  Since Chapter 3 Section A relates to Identification Information, the letter A comes before all page numbers in this section.  The RAI Manual could take between 3 to 10 minutes to download.

Directions: When you follow the link below, you will open the MDS 3.0 RAI Manual page on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) site. Once you are on this page, scroll to the download section. Select the MDS 3.0 RAI Manual.

Link to the RAI Manual

Directions: When you follow the link below, you will open the MDS 3.0 Technical Information page on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS ) site. Once you are on this page, scroll to the download section. Sometimes you may find two releases of the Item Subsets in the download section; you will need to pay attention to the dates to get the right one to meet your needs. Select MDS 3.0 Item Subsets to download the files.

Link to MDS 3.0 Item Subset forms

Instructor Guides

This link will take you to PDF files of PowerPoint Slides with Instructor Notes used in CMS Training of Trainers. You can go through this training material at your own pace. You may find it helpful to have a copy of the MDS 3.0 forms when you review this information. Please refer to the RAI Manual and CMS Transmittals of Changes.

 

Presentation Slides

This link will take you to the CMS PowerPoint Slides developed for Training of Trainers for Section A. This PowerPoint includes only the slides; it does not include trainer notes or audio of the training.

 

Supplemental Training Handouts

Section A Training Aids (refer to Chapter 2, RAI Manual, table for OBRA, Section A. Pages 15-16)  

 

Training Videos

If you would like to see a 34 minute video of the actual CMS Training of Trainers session on Section A presented by Dave Malitz, PhD (August 2010) view this YouTube video. If you would like to see a 29 minute video of ICD-10 Coding Basics (January 2014) view this YouTube video.

For more training videos, this link will take you to a list of MDS 3.0 videos on YouTube; it is filtered by date. Beginning at the top, you can view the most videos that have been uploaded on the subject of MDS 3.0. Please note that several of the videos have been uploaded by CMSHHSGOV. While there are many videos on this YouTube channel, the videos posted by CMS would be most recommended by the State of Maine as this is the primary source of guidance on the MDS 3.0 from CMS.

Some things, such as interview techniques have not changed since the implementation of MDS 3.0 in 2011, other sections may not have current information.

Certain responses to questions in the MDS 3.0 will point to conditions, symptoms and other areas of concern that need further assessment in order to help the facility develop a comprehensive individualized care plan. These responses will “trigger” (Care Area Trigger, CAT) the need to complete a Care Area Assessment (CAA ).  Chapter 4 of the RAI Manual covers the Care Area Assessment (CAA ) Process and Care Planning. 

Directions: When you select the link below, you will open the MDS 3.0 RAI Manual page located on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) site. Once you are on this page, scroll down to the download section. Select MDS 3.0 RAI Manual. See Chapter 4 in the MDS 3.0 RAI Manual.

Link to CAAs and CATs material

Responses to the following items in Section A: Identification Information may trigger the facility to conduct a Care Area Assessment.

• A0310A (CAA 1 – Delirium, CAA 8 – Mood State, CAA 11 – Falls)
  

Additional, compound responses to the following sections of the MDS 3.0 can trigger a Care Area Assessment directly related to Section A: Identification Information

• C0500 (CAA1 – Delirium) [Effective prior to 10/01/2016]
• C1310A (CAA1 – Delirium) [Effective on or after 10/01/2016]
• C1310B (CAA1 – Delirium) [Effective on or after 10/01/2016]
• C1310C (CAA1 – Delirium) [Effective on or after 10/01/2016]
• C1310D (CAA1 – Delirium) [Effective on or after 10/01/2016]
• D0300 (CAA 8 – Mood State)
• D0600 (CAA 8 – Mood State)
• J1700A (CAA 11 – Falls)
• J1700B (CAA 11 – Falls)
• K0310 (CAA 12 – Nutritional Status) [Effective on or after 04/01/2012]
• K0500A (CAA 12 – Nutritional Status & CAA 14 Dehydration/Fluid Maintenance) [Effective prior to 04/01/2012]
• K0500B (CAA 13 – Feeding Tubes & CAA 14 – Dehydration/Fluid Maintenance) [Effective prior to 4/1/12]
• K0500C (CAA 12 – Nutritional Status) [Effective prior to 04/01/2012]
• K0500D (CAA 12 – Nutritional Status) [Effective prior to 04/01/2012]
• K0510A1 (CAA 12 – Nutritional Status & CAA 14 Dehydration/Fluid Maintenance) [Effective on or after 04/01/2012]
• K0510A2 (CAA 12 – Nutritional Status & CAA 14 Dehydration/Fluid Maintenance) [Effective on or after 04/01/2012]
• K0510B1 (CAA 13 – Feeding Tubes & CAA 14 – Dehydration/Fluid Maintenance) [Effective on or after 04/01/2012]
• K0510B2 (CAA 13 – Feeding Tubes & CAA 14 – Dehydration/Fluid Maintenance) [Effective on or after 04/01/2012]
• K0510C1 (CAA 12 – Nutritional Status) [Effective on or after 04/01/2012]
• K0510C2 (CAA 12 – Nutritional Status) [Effective on or after 04/01/2012]
• K0510D1 (CAA 12 – Nutritional Status) [Effective on or after 04/01/2012]
• K0510D2 (CAA 12 – Nutritional Status) [Effective on or after 04/01/2012]
• M1040H (CAA 6 – Urinary Incontinence & Indwelling Catheter) [Effective prior to 04/01/2012]
• N0400A (CAA 17 – Psychotropic Medication Use) [Effective prior to 04/01/2012]
• N0400B (CAA 11 – Falls & CAA 17 – Psychotropic Medication Use) [Effective prior to 04/01/2012]
• N0400C (CAA 11 – Falls & CAA 17 – Psychotropic Medication Use) [Effective prior to 04/01/2012]
• N0400D (CAA 17 – Psychotropic Medication Use) [Effective prior to 04/01/2012]
• N0410A (CAA 17 – Psychotropic Medication Use) [Effective on or after 04/01/2012]
• N0410B (CAA 11 – Falls & CAA 17 – Psychotropic Medication Use) [Effective on or after 04/01/2012]
• N0410C (CAA11 Falls & CAA 17 – Psychotropic Medication Use) [Effective on or after 04/01/2012]
• N0410D (CAA 17 – Psychotropic Medication Use) [Effective on or after 04/01/2012]
• V0100D (CAA 1 – Delirium) [Effective prior to 10/1/2015]
• V0100E (CAA 8 – Mood State)
• V0100F (CAA 8 – Mood State)

Long Term Care facilities receive reimbursement through two government programs: Medicare and MaineCare. Both programs reimburse Long Term Care facilities based on measures of the intensity of care and services required for each resident. Case Mix refers to the aggregate level of services and care needed by all the residents of a Long Term Care facility.

Link to Case Mix Manuals

Medicare reimbursement is based on a category-based classification system called Resource Utilization Group IV (RUG-IV). Certain responses on the MDS 3.0 determine assignment of a resident to a RUG-IV group. Medicare reimbursement guidelines are the same all across the country.

Medicaid reimbursement rules and guidelines differ from state to state. Currently Maine's Medicaid program (called MaineCare) uses a Case Mix system that differs from the Medicare system.

CMS does not require the completion of C0600 and C0700. However, the State of Maine does require these items to be completed in order to calculate Case Mix payment.

Some questions in Section A, Identification Information affect Case Mix for RUG-IV (Medicare) and RUG-III (MaineCare). Select the link below for a copy of the MDS 3.0 Item Subset that identifies relevant questions.

Link to MDS 3.0 Item Subset (10/01/2018)