On the CMS SNF Open Door Forum on March 2, CMS shared updated timelines related to the latest Minimum Data Set (MDS). The final version of the MDS is expected to be released by April 1, along with a draft of the Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) Manual. A draft of the data specifications was released in February, with final data specs expected by May. CMS will release training videos on the MDS beginning in May with live virtual workshops planned for late June / early July. The final version of the RAI Manual will be released in August. CMS intends to release a draft item set for the Optional State Assessment (OSA) in late April / early May, the assessment that states will use to gather needed assessment data for calculating RUGs payment amounts for Medicaid beneficiaries as they work toward transitioning to PDPM by October 2025. Quality measures that utilize Section G in calculations will be transitioned for Section GG later this year with more information to come.
