Source anchor
CMS MDS 3.0 RAI Manual v1.20.1 is the governed baseline currently attached to this lookup item.
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MDS Lookup
Race
Item Rationale
Matrix review
6 matrix group(s) are already attached for review on this item.
Answer coverage
No governed answer rows are attached yet. Add sub-items to populate the answer-codes view.
Answer Codes
No answer codes are defined for this item. This item may use a check-all or numeric entry format.
What this item is
Item Rationale
When to use it
Use this item when the facility is completing content tied to Section A and needs to stay anchored to v1.20.1.
Reminders
- Current source status: Published.
- Item locator: Manual page A-18
- CMS exact locator: Manual page A-18
- This item does not yet have governed answer rows attached.
Source awareness
This page is grounded in CMS MDS 3.0 RAI Manual v1.20.1. Review the exact text and locators before treating the item as final reference content.
Source & Review
Manual
CMS MDS 3.0 RAI Manual v1.20.1
Status
Published
Effective start
2025-10-01
Item locator
Manual page A-18
CMS exact locator
Manual page A-18
Full CMS Text
Item Rationale
Standardizing self-reported data collection for race allows for the equal comparison of data across multiple healthcare settings and is an important step in improving quality of care and health outcomes. These categories are NOT used to determine eligibility for participation in any Federal program.
Steps for Assessment: Interview Instructions
1. Ask the resident to select the category or categories that
most closely correspond to the resident’s race from the list in A1010, Race.
2. Racial category definitions are provided only if requested
in order to answer the item.
3. Respondents should be offered the option of selecting one
or more racial designations.
4. If the resident declines to respond, code Y, Resident
declines to respond, and do not code based on other resources (family, significant other, or legally authorized representative or medical records).
5. If the resident is unable to respond, the assessor may ask a
family member, significant other, and/or guardian/legally authorized representative.
6. Only use medical record documentation to code A1010,
Race if the resident is unable to respond and no family member, significant other, and/or guardian/legally authorized representative provides a response for this item.
DEFINITION
RACE AMERICAN INDIAN OR ALASKAN NATIVE A person having origins in any of the original peoples of North and South America (including Central America), and who maintains tribal affiliation or community attachment. ASIAN A person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand, Vietnam. BLACK OR AFRICAN AMERICAN A person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa. Terms such as “Haitian” or “Negro” can be used in addition to “Black” or “African American.” NATIVE HAWAIIAN OR OTHER PACIFIC ISLANDER A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands. WHITE A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa.
Coding Instructions
Check all that apply. If the resident provides a response, check the box(es) indicating the race category or categories identified by the resident. Code X, Resident unable to respond: if the resident is unable to respond. — In the cases where the resident is unable to respond and the response is determined via family, significant other, or legally authorized representative input or medical records, check all boxes that apply, including X. Resident unable to respond. — If the resident is unable to respond and no other resources (family, significant other, or legally authorized representative or medical records) provided the necessary information, code as X. Resident unable to respond. Code Y, Resident declines to respond: if the resident declines to respond. — When the resident declines to respond, code only Y. Resident declines to respond. — When the resident declines to respond do not code based on other resources (family, significant other, or legally authorized representative or medical records). Code Z, None of the above: if the resident reports or it is determined from other resources (family, significant other, or legally authorized representative or medical records) that none of the listed races apply.
Examples
1. Resident W has severe dementia with agitation. During the Admission assessment, they are
unable to provide their race. Their child informs the nurse that Resident W is Korean and African American.
Coding: A1010, Race would be coded as B. Black or African American, H. Korean, and
X. Resident unable to respond.
Rationale: If Resident W is unable to respond but their family, significant other, or
legally authorized representative provided the response, code those responses and X. Resident unable to respond.
2. Resident Q declines to provide their race during the admission assessment stating “I’d rather
not answer.” Coding: A1010, Race would be coded as Y. Resident declines to respond.
Rationale: If a resident declines to respond to this item, then code only Y. Resident
declines to respond. Do not make attempts to code A1010, Race when a resident declines to respond based on other resources (family, significant other, or legally authorized representative or medical records).
3. Resident V, who is admitted to the SNF following a recent CVA resulting in confusion, is
unable to answer when asked their race. Their family member reports that none of the listed races apply.
Coding: A1010, Race would be coded as X. Resident unable to respond and Z. None of
the above.
Rationale: If a resident is unable to respond, family, significant other, or legally
authorized representative input may be used to code A1010, Race and the assessor should code both the information determined via family, significant other, or legally authorized representative input or medical records (in this case, Z. None of the above) and X. Resident unable to respond.
Matrix Applicability
Nursing Home Subsets
NC - Comprehensive
Marker: x
applies
Locator: MDS Item Matrix v1.20.1 v4
NQ - Quarterly
Marker: x
applies
Locator: MDS Item Matrix v1.20.1 v4
ND - Discharge
Marker: x
applies
Locator: MDS Item Matrix v1.20.1 v4
NP - PPS 5 Day
Marker: x
applies
Locator: MDS Item Matrix v1.20.1 v4
NPE - PPS DC
Marker: x
applies
Locator: MDS Item Matrix v1.20.1 v4
Swing Bed Subsets
SP - PPS 5 Day
Marker: x
applies
Locator: MDS Item Matrix v1.20.1 v4
SD - Discharge
Marker: x
applies
Locator: MDS Item Matrix v1.20.1 v4
Shared NH/SB Subsets
IPA - Interim Payment
Marker: x
applies
Locator: MDS Item Matrix v1.20.1 v4
NT / ST - Tracking
Marker: x
applies
Locator: MDS Item Matrix v1.20.1 v4
OBRA Stand Alone Assessments
OBRA Admission A=01, B=99, F=99, G=^, H=0
Marker: x
applies
Locator: MDS Item Matrix v1.20.1 v4
OBRA Quarterly A=02, B=99, F=99, G=^, H=0
Marker: x
applies
Locator: MDS Item Matrix v1.20.1 v4
OBRA Annual / Sig Chg A=03, B=99, F=99, G=^, H=0 A= 04, B=99, F=99, G=^, H=0
Marker: x
applies
Locator: MDS Item Matrix v1.20.1 v4
OBRA Discharge A=99, B=99, F=10, 11, G=1, 2, H=0
Marker: x
applies
Locator: MDS Item Matrix v1.20.1 v4
Program and Policy Use
Administrative (Tech Need / Edits / Processing)
Marker: +
supporting item
Locator: MDS Item Matrix v1.20.1 v4
QRP Standardized (A0310B = 01 and/or A0310H = 1)
Marker: x
applies
Locator: MDS Item Matrix v1.20.1 v4
Item Subset Required Use ISC Skip Patterns
APU Item Admission (A0310B = 01)
Marker: x
applies
Locator: MDS Item Matrix v1.20.1 v4
QRP PPS 5 Day Admission (A0310B = 01)
Marker: x
applies
Locator: MDS Item Matrix v1.20.1 v4