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SEER-CAHPS: Minimum Data Set (MDS) - Nursing Home Assessment
The Minimum Data Set (MDS) is part of a federally mandated process for clinical assessment of all residents in Medicare or Medicaid certified nursing homes. This process entails a comprehensive, standardized assessment of each resident's functional capabilities and health needs. Assessments are conducted by trained nursing home clinicians on all patients at admission and discharge, in addition to other time intervals (e.g., quarterly, annually, and when residents experience a significant change in status). In October 2010, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services implemented MDS 3.0, a significant change in the type of data collected from prior versions of the MDS. The MDS 3.0 captures information about patients’ comorbidities, physical, psychological and psychosocial functioning in addition to any treatments (e.g., hospice care, oxygen therapy, chemotherapy, dialysis) or therapies (e.g., physical, occupational, speech, restorative nursing) received.
Patients in the SEER-CAHPS data diagnosed in 1999 and later have been linked with MDS data from 1999 and later. Cancer patients with fee-for-service and HMO coverage are included.
More details about the initial incorporation of MDS data with SEER-Medicare is provided in:
Thomas KS, Boyd E, Mariotto AB, Penn DC, Barrett MJ, Warren JL. New Opportunities for Cancer Health Services Research: Linking the SEER-Medicare Data to the Nursing Home Minimum Data Set. Med Care. 2018 Feb 2.
View ResDAC’s Long Term Care Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 File Overview
View ResDAC’s Long Term Care Minimum Data Set (MDS) 2.0 File Overview