A release of newly updated material for the RAI (Resident Assessment Instrument) manual used by nursing home operators is expected this morning. Also, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services expects to have the “completely revised manual” out by June 18, the agency’s Thomas Dudley said Thursday during a conference call.

“I know everybody’s chomping at the bit to get the latest and most up-to-date info on the manual,” Dudley said. He was apologizing to listeners on the SNF Open Door Forum conference call for not being able to keep to a promised “end of May” deadline. An up-to-date accounting of what is available to providers is available on the CMS website at http://www.cms.gov/NursingHomeQualityInits/45_NHQIMDS30TrainingMaterials.asp.

“The focus right now is Chapter 3. We’re intentionally publishing these as packages—you’ll have manuals, guidances and slides,” Dudley said, adding, “You can take them and run with it.”

Most of Chapter 3 will be out by next week, he said.

“What we’re publishing now is what will be used for Oct. 1 (the implementation date for MDS 3.0 and interim RUGs-IV payment groupings),” Dudley explained. “There will be no revisions to it before Oct. 1. The next revisions probably won’t be until early 2011.”