MDS Leadership

Browse our posts in this topic!

Oct 01 2026
,

MDS Under Review: Building an Accurate, Reproducible, and Audit-Ready Assessment

History of MDS 3.0 Audits The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) audits of skilled nursing facility (SNF) Minimum Data Set (MDS) data are nothing new. The MDS is a Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) that CMS has created and mandated to provide each resident with a standardized, comprehensive and reproducible assessment. This tool assesses a resident’s ability to perform daily life functions, identifies significant impairments in a resident’s functional capacity, and provides...
Keep Reading
May 01 2025
,

Celebrating Skilled Nursing

National Skilled Nursing Week is held annually in May to recognize long-term care professionals that care for our residents in Skilled Nursing Facilities. This year’s National Skilled Nursing Week is May 11 - 17 and the theme is “Tapestry of Life” which was released by the American Health Care Association (AHCA). “Tapestry of Life highlights the meaningful stories that make up each person’s journey in skilled nursing care. From residents and families to caregivers and staff, everyone adds a...
Keep Reading
Mar 01 2025
, ,

RAI and MDS Compliance: The Importance of the Administrator in the Lineup

With the Minimum Data Set (MDS), the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) created a standardized, reliable, reproducible framework for assessing long term care resident status. As a result, MDS data plays a significant role in myriad areas of skilled nursing – from resident care plans to quality measures and reimbursement – which are governed through regulatory compliance. While adherence to these guidelines certainly falls to MDS Coordinators and Interdisciplinary Team (IDT) members, there...
Keep Reading
mds-consultants-what-is-an-mds-nurse-coordinator-part-1
Dec 01 2024
, ,

What is an MDS Coordinator?

"What do you do for a living?" It may not surprise you that when asked this question, most MDS Coordinators struggle to come up with an answer. The reality is that MDS Coordinators fully understand what this multifaceted job entails, but are at a loss of how to put it into words for someone who isn’t out there doing it every day. This refresher on the basics of MDS Coordination should help answer that basic question quickly, completely, and in such a way that is easy to grasp.   What Does...
Keep Reading
From-the-MDS-to-RAI-System-Management
Nov 01 2024
, ,

From the MDS to RAI System Management

With the introduction of the Minimum Data Set (MDS) through the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA) of 1987, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) implemented a method of standardized, comprehensive, and reproducible data collection for long term care residents that addressed medical conditions and functional status. This data collection tool has morphed into a means of reflecting long term care and rehab facility compliance with federal regulations, facility quality measures, resident...
Keep Reading
Section-GG
Apr 01 2024
,

Section GG Documentation – Questions Still Abound

Section GG remains a popular discussion topic among the Nurse Assessment Coordinator (NAC) and other members of the interdisciplinary team (IDT). Many have questioned their own practices and processes, designed to support coding this section of the MDS. CMS states in its Participant Questions from the Skilled Nursing Facility MDS 3.0 RAI v1.18.11 Guidance Training Program (June 21, 2023 - current as of August 2023) that: While CMS does not impose specific documentation procedures on nursing...
Keep Reading
Jul 05 2023

What Is an MDS Coordinator?

It’s a bit odd that when asked what you do for a living most MDS coordinators struggle to come up with an answer. Who struggles to explain what they do every day? The reality is that MDS Coordinators fully understand what this multifaceted job entails, but are at a loss how to put it into words for someone who isn’t out there doing it every day. Being able to answer this question quickly, completely and in such a way that is easy to grasp has a lot of critical upsides. What does MDS Stand for?...
Keep Reading
May 13 2023
,

MDS 2023 Countdown Wrap-Up

This post is part of the MDS 2023 Countdown series.  Disclaimer: Current as of May 13, 2023.   What You Can Expect to See CMS released the first MDS draft item set (v1.18.11) in September 2022, which generated many questions for the long-term care community. Both the final item sets and the draft MDS 3.0 v1.18.11 User's Manual were released in April 2023. The updated User's Manual includes updates to section intent, coding instructions, definitions, and tips - and totals nearly 400 more...
Keep Reading
Apr 06 2022
,

Pulling the MDS nurse to the Floor

Pulling the MDS nurse Onto the Floor: Minimum Nursing Staffing Levels CMS is now showing consumers staff turnover and weekend staffing levels on Nursing Home Care Compare. These added metrics show families the history of staffing levels and staff retention for every nursing home facility and are key factors in assessing quality of care. The President's recent calling on nursing homes to improve their care outcomes has been in the news recently. The fact sheet from his February briefing stated...
Keep Reading
Jan 05 2017
,

How Much Staff Do I Need for MDS?

We all know that a lot of time, energy and effort go into completing an MDS.  But how many hours should you really be spending? Factors to Consider in Calculating MDS Staffing Time What is your average LTC census per year? What is your average Rehab Census per year? What is your average LOS for Rehab residents? Current Benchmarks for MDS Nursing Hours per Resident These are some general benchmarks for the average number of MDS Nursing hours spent per resident on MDS Completions: Each LTC...
Keep Reading
logo-mcknights
Sep 05 2016
,

One section at a time

Phil Brahm | Sept 5, 2016 | Excerpted from McKnights When it comes to the Minimum Data Set, accuracy can be the defining factor in whether a facility keeps its doors open, thrives or ends up facing federal indictment. Whether providers are looking to ensure they can afford to provide the proper care their residents need or to maintain a five-star quality rating, the information listed in the assessment form has lasting effects on all involved. Experts note that some sections are harder to...
Keep Reading

Recent Blogs in All Topics

Oct 01 2026
,

MDS Under Review: Building an Accurate, Reproducible, and Audit-Ready Assessment

History of MDS 3.0 Audits The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) audits of skilled nursing facility (SNF) Minimum Data Set (MDS) data are nothing new. The MDS is a Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) that CMS has created and mandated to...
Keep Reading
Sep 01 2026
,

From Lag Time to Real Time: SNF QRP and SNF VBP Submission Deadline Updates

The 2027 SNF PPS Final Rule finalized CMS’s proposal to revise the submission deadlines for both the SNF QRP and SNF VBP programs. The change applies to MDS assessment data and CDC NHSN data items.   The SNF QRP and SNF VBP publicly reported data...
Keep Reading
Aug 01 2026
, ,

Beyond the Dashboard: Using iQIES to Drive Quality and Compliance in SNFs

The Skilled Nursing Facility Value-Based Purchasing (SNF VBP) Program is a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) program that awards incentive payments to skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) to encourage SNFs to improve the quality of...
Keep Reading
Jul 01 2026
, ,

From Quality to Financial Performance: How QMs Influence SNF VBP and Five-Star Ratings

Overview of The SNF VBP Program  The Skilled Nursing Facility Value-Based Purchasing program (SNF VBP) is a Medicare pay-for-performance program that is intended to encourage SNFs to improve the quality of care they provide to their residents. All...
Keep Reading
Jun 07 2026
,

What Really Counts: How Quality Measures Shape Compliance, Reporting, and Performance

If your Facility-level and Resident-level MDS 3.0 Quality Measures (MDS 3.0 QM), the Skilled Nursing Facility MDS 3.0 Quality Reporting Program Quality Measures (MDS 3.0 SNF QRP QM), or Five Star QM reporting on Care Compare are missing the mark...
Keep Reading
May 01 2026
,

Beyond the Scorecard: Turning Quality Measure Data into Action

Data coded on the Minimum Data Set (MDS) is collected during structured and defined time periods; what happens with the resident outside of those time periods cannot be captured on the MDS and will not impact your quality measures (QMs) apart from...
Keep Reading
Apr 01 2026

Care Planning to Reduce the Risk for Chemical Restraint

How can we turn care plans from an exercise in paper compliance that few staff understand, let alone review or utilize, to a workable document that helps us manage resident needs? When thinking about how to create an effective care plan for an “as...
Keep Reading
Mar 01 2026
, , ,

From Orders to Action: Aligning Care Plans and Psychotropic Medications

Critical Element Pathways (CEPs) are tools in the Long-Term Care State Operations Manual (SOM) that are developed by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) and utilized by surveyors along with interpretive guidance to evaluate each facility’s...
Keep Reading
Feb 01 2026

F641 in Plain English – How Interview Accuracy Protects Your CMI

When surveyors look at MDS accuracy, they’re not just checking boxes – they’re looking at whether the assessment truly reflects the resident. F641 holds the interdisciplinary team and nursing leadership accountable for how the assessment is...
Keep Reading
Jan 01 2026
,

From Coding to Compliance: Avoiding Pitfalls in the 2026 MDS Landscape

With the numerous regulatory bodies that govern long term care (LTC) and skilled nursing facilities (SNF), it is easy to feel like there is no end to the Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) and Minimum Data Set (MDS) “rules.” There are Federal,...
Keep Reading
Dec 01 2025
,

Keeping Up with Quality Measures in 2026

Quality measures (QM) that are driven by MDS data are currently utilized for long term care (LTC) facilities and skilled nursing facilities (SNF) in several ways. These QMs are publicly reported via the Care Compare (CC) website and accompanying...
Keep Reading
Nov 01 2025
, , , ,

The Latest in the Lineup: The Skilled Nursing Facility Validation Program

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) audits of skilled nursing facility (SNF) Minimum Data Set (MDS) data are nothing new. The MDS 3.0 was implemented in 2010, and in 2014 CMS piloted MDS Focused Surveys in 5 states. The results of the pilot...
Keep Reading
Oct 01 2025
, ,

How the MDS is Utilized During the Survey Process

Have you ever wondered how the survey team determines which residents they will focus on during a standard survey in the skilled nursing facility/long term care facility (SNF/LTC)? The answers submitted to the Center for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS)...
Keep Reading
Sep 01 2025
,

Fall MDS Updates are Here!

October 1 is typically when the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) institutes changes to the Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) and Minimum Data Set (MDS) – and this year is no exception. CMS has rescinded a few things that were...
Keep Reading
Aug 01 2025
,

Medicaid PDPM Is Coming: What Skilled Nursing Facilities Need to Know

Beginning October 1, 2025, many nursing homes will adopt a new reimbursement model for Medicaid residents: the Patient-Driven Payment Model, or Medicaid PDPM. While PDPM has been in place for Medicare since 2019, this is the first time it’s being...
Keep Reading
Jul 01 2025
,

The Facility Assessment and Emergency Management Planning: The MDS Plays a Big Role

  What is the MDS Role in the Facility Assessment? F838 in the State Operations Manual (SOM) provides specific information for developing a Facility Assessment that must be reviewed and updated at least annually. A well-developed facility...
Keep Reading
Jun 01 2025
,

MDS Nutrition – Not Limited to Section K

Often Section K on the MDS, associated CAAs, and care planning are relegated to the dietician to worry about. However, when we look at a comprehensive MDS, we can see that the information in Section K is only part of the resident's nutritional...
Keep Reading
May 01 2025
,

Celebrating Skilled Nursing

National Skilled Nursing Week is held annually in May to recognize long-term care professionals that care for our residents in Skilled Nursing Facilities. This year’s National Skilled Nursing Week is May 11 - 17 and the theme is “Tapestry of Life”...
Keep Reading
Apr 01 2025
,

MDS Errors: Steps for Correction

What does the NAC do when they identify an error on an MDS assessment? The answer is correct the identified error. Any error that incorrectly represents the resident's status needs to be corrected. One would think correcting an MDS error would be a...
Keep Reading
Mar 01 2025
, ,

RAI and MDS Compliance: The Importance of the Administrator in the Lineup

With the Minimum Data Set (MDS), the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) created a standardized, reliable, reproducible framework for assessing long term care resident status. As a result, MDS data plays a significant role in myriad areas of...
Keep Reading
Feb 01 2025

Laying the Foundation – Care Area Assessments to Care Plans

Because Care Area Assessments (CAAs) are not submitted to CMS, and the Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) manual offers little guidance on how to complete a CAA when compared to the Minimum Data Set (MDS) instructions, CAAs are a segment of the...
Keep Reading
Jan 01 2025

Navigating the 2025 Winds of Change: New Survey Guidance

The 2025 new year has begun with a whirlwind of changes in Long-Term Care – starting with New Surveyor Guidance. CMS released an advanced copy of these State Operations Manual Appendix PP (Guidance for Skilled Nursing Facilities) updates in a...
Keep Reading
Dec 01 2024
, ,

What is an MDS Coordinator?

"What do you do for a living?" It may not surprise you that when asked this question, most MDS Coordinators struggle to come up with an answer. The reality is that MDS Coordinators fully understand what this multifaceted job entails, but are at a...
Keep Reading
Nov 01 2024
, ,

From the MDS to RAI System Management

With the introduction of the Minimum Data Set (MDS) through the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA) of 1987, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) implemented a method of standardized, comprehensive, and reproducible data collection for long...
Keep Reading
Oct 01 2024

Maximizing Case Mix with Special Programs: Respiratory Therapy and Restorative Nursing

Case mix is essential in skilled nursing facilities as it impacts both reimbursement and the care provided. Two key programs that significantly impact case mix scores when properly implemented and documented are Respiratory Therapy and Restorative...
Keep Reading
Sep 01 2024

Strategic Admissions: The Path to Optimized Medicaid Reimbursement

Medicaid reimbursement plays a significant role in the financial health of long-term care facilities, particularly those serving a high percentage of Medicaid residents. While it may not be the sole source of revenue, it is an important component...
Keep Reading
Aug 01 2024
, ,

Internet Quality Improvement and Evaluation System (iQIES): A New Age

Just when we thought we had a handle on QIES (Quality Improvement and Evaluation System), the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) transitioned to the Internet Quality Improvement and Evaluation System (iQIES) in 2023.   Reports...
Keep Reading
Jul 01 2024
,

A Significant Change in Status Assessment – There are Options

The Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) system includes a significant change in status assessment (SCSA). What might be forgotten is the State Operation Manual (SOM), Appendix PP, includes information that mirrors the RAI manual at 42 CFR...
Keep Reading
Jun 01 2024
,

Interim Payment Assessment (IPA) – To do or not to do?

The Patient-Driven Payment Model took effect in October of 2019. Along with this change came the optional IPA. We are now five years into this change and questions still arise on when to complete an IPA. The decision of when to complete lies with...
Keep Reading
May 01 2024
,

Resident Interviews – What are you doing to capture the data?

Effective October 1, 2023, several resident interviews were added to or updated on the MDS. Interview items in Section A and changes to the interviews in Section D, J, and Q have been implemented. Each of the interviews can be a great steppingstone...
Keep Reading