Long Term Care Minimum Data Set 3.0

The Long Term Care Minimum Data Set (MDS) is a health status screening and assessment tool used for all residents of long term care nursing facilities certified to participate in Medicare or Medicaid, regardless of payer. The assessment is also required for Medicare payment of skilled nursing facility stays. Assessment data for Skilled Nursing Swing Beds 3.0 is included in a separate file, MDS version 3.0 was implemented on October 1, 2010, replacing version 2.0.

What does this file include? (variable highlights)

  • Resource Utilization Group (RUG) code
  • Clinical status measures
  • Physical functioning assessment
  • Psychological status measures
  • Psycho-social functioning measure
  • End-of-life care decisions

Availability of this file

Availability:
Annual: October 2010-2024
Monthly*: 2025 and 2026

*Data is only available to CCW VRDC users, and cannot be shipped.

The years listed reflect the most recent full year available from the CCW. MDS data from CMS can typically be requested within three months of the target date. The version of the MDS changed from 2.0 to 3.0 on 10/01/2010. The 4th quarter of 2010 data will be version 3.0.

Date Requests Can Be Accepted for Upcoming Releases:

Annual: 2025 may be requested after 2/1/2027
Monthly: 2027 may be requested after 12/1/2026

See what is in this file