RAI Manual

MDS 3.0 RAI User’s Manual

The Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) helps nursing home staff in gathering definitive information on a resident’s strengths and needs, which must be addressed in an individualized care plan. Interdisciplinary use of the RAI promotes this emphasis on quality of care and quality of life. The Minimum Data Set (MDS) is a core set of screening, clinical, and functional status elements, including common definitions and coding categories, which forms the foundation of a comprehensive assessment for all residents of nursing homes certified to participate in Medicare or Medicaid. This page contains the current MDS 3.0 RAI User’s Manual v1.17.1, effective Oct. 1, 2019.

Updated: October 2019

Use the drop down list below to find the exact chapter, appendix, or change-table you need to replace.

• MDS 3.0 RAI Manual v1.17.1, effective October 1, 2019 (posted September 2019) This is the final version and went into effect October 2019, and due to the COVID-19 public health emergency continues to be in effect without changes for fiscal year 2021 (starting Oct. 1, 2020). 
• MDS 3.0 Appendix B – State RAI Contacts (updated May 2023) 
• MDS 3.0 Final Item Sets v1.17.2 for Oct. 1, 2020 (released May 2020)
• Errata V3.00.5 for MDS 3.0-V3.00.1 (FINAL) Data Submission Specifications (released June 2020)
• MDS 3.0 RAI User’s Manual (v1.17.1R) Errata (v1) (released October 2021)
• MDS 3.0 RAI User’s Manual (v1.17.1R) Errata (v2) (released July 2022)
• MDS 3.0 Final Item Sets v1.18.11 for Oct. 1 2023 (ZIP)
• Draft MDS 3.0 RAI Manual v1.18.11 October 2023 (PDF)
• Final OSA Manual, Item Set, Change History October 1 2023 (ZIP)

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