What does the new MDS mean for Administrators on 10/1/23?

The industry is buzzing… after pandemic-related delays, CMS finally released the draft Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 version 1.18.11 for implementation on October 1, 2023, with the final version expected to be published before the new year. It’s been widely regarded as the largest change to the MDS in over a decade. With less than one year to prepare, a slew of changes that impact everything from interdisciplinary communication to assessments, and risk to both Medicare and Medicaid revenue, where should you start?

Let’s look at cause and effect. What are the most significant changes in the MDS 3.0 version 1.18.11 and what impact to skilled nursing facility (SNF) operations should administrators expect?