DiraChart MDS item reference

Q0550ASection Qv1.20.1Manual page Q-20

Reasking resident preference

This item is referenced against CMS MDS source materials. Verify coding against the current CMS RAI Manual, item set instructions, and facility documentation before submission.

Quick coding

Answer Codes

Use the item-specific response choices below when structured codes apply.

Response format: Coded response

Q0550. Resident’s Preference to Avoid Being Asked Question Q0500B
EnterCode A. Does resident (or family or significant other or guardian or legally authorized representative only if resident is unable to
[ ] understand or respond) want to be asked about returning to the community on all assessments? (Rather than on
comprehensive assessments alone)
0. No- then document in resident’s clinical record and ask again only on the next comprehensive assessment
1. Yes
8. Information not available
EnterCode C. Indicate information source for Q0550A
[ ] 1. Resident
2. Family
3. Significant other
4. Legal guardian
5. Other legally authorized representative
9. None of the above

Item-specific instructions

Coding Guidance

Review what the item asks, how to choose the response, and what should be verified before submission.

RAI Manual v1.20.1

Coding Instructions

for Q0550A, Does the resident (or family or
significant other or guardian or legally authorized representative
only if resident is unable to understand or respond) want to be
asked about returning to the community on all assessments?
(Rather than on comprehensive assessments alone)

Code 0, No: if the resident (or family or significant other, or guardian or legally
authorized representative) states that they do not want to be asked again on Quarterly
assessments about returning to the community. In this case, document in resident’s
clinical record and ask question Q0500B again only on the next comprehensive
assessment.

Code 1, Yes: if the resident (or family or significant other, or guardian or legally
authorized representative) states that they do want to be asked the return to community
question, Q0500B, on all assessments.

Code 8, Information not available: if the resident cannot respond and the family
or significant other is not available to respond on the resident’s behalf and a guardian or
legally authorized representative is not available or has not been appointed by the court.
Q0550: Resident’s Preference to Avoid Being Asked Question
Q0500B (cont.)
Coding Instructions for Q0550C, Indicate information source for
Q0550A

Code 1, Resident: if resident responded to Q0550A.

Code 2, Family.

Code 3, Significant other.

Code 4, Legal guardian.

Code 5, Other legally authorized representative.

Code 9, None of the above.
Example
1. Resident W is an 81-year-old individual who was admitted after a fall that broke their hip,
wrist and collar bone. Their recovery is slow and their family visits regularly. Their
apartment is awaiting them and they hope within the next 4–6 months to be discharged home.
When asked, resident W stated that they would like to be asked about discharging to the
community on all assessments.
Coding: Q0550A would be coded 1, Yes.
Q0550C would be coded 1, Resident.
Rationale: Resident W responded yes to item Q0550A, indicating they want to be
asked about returning to the community on all assessments.

Manual page Q-20
MDS item matrix

Assessment Applicability

See where this item applies across Nursing Home, Swing Bed, discharge, required-use, OBRA, and program or policy columns.

0 relationships0 groups
No Matrix applicability rows are currently attached to this item.

Use the full Matrix Explorer to review available columns and mapping status.

Official CMS source

Verify in the CMS Source

Open the mapped manual or item-set location without losing your place on this item page.

SourceCMS MDS 3.0 Item Matrix v1.20.1
Effective2025-10-01
Mapped locationManual page Q-20
Reference details

Deeper help after the reference answer

Open these tools when you need additional drilldown, CAA crosswalk, documentation, source-locator, or AI-context detail.