The Minimum Data Set (MDS) is a uniform set of elements extracted from the Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) which is a standardized tool for assessing the functional capacity of residents of long term care facilities. On December 23, 1997, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published the fine rule, which established the guidelines for the use of the data set and specified the data elements included in the assessment instrument. Long term care facilities are required to complete and transmit MDS data to the designated state agency for all residents as a condition of participation in the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Automated transmission of all MDS data is required beginning June 22, 1998.
Massachusetts MDS Section S
Massachusetts will be implementing state-specific MDS section S items effective April 1st 2012. See the below documents for more information.
Related Links
More information
For more information on MDS issues, please contact one of the following staff at the Division of Health Care Quality:
MDS Clinical Coordinator
Pamela Melideo
MDS/RAI Clinical Coordinator
617-753-8047
Email: pamela.melideo@state.ma.us
Contact the RAI/MDS Clinical Coordinator with coding questions on the MDS
MDS Automation Coordinator
Andrew Sinatra
MDS/OASIS Automation
(617) 753-8188
Email: andrew.sinatra@state.ma.us
Contact the MDS Automation Coordinator for questions on the transmission of the MDS to the federal database.
This information is provided by the Division of Health Care Quality within the Department of Public Health.