SNF toolkit
GG0170 Mobility Items
Mobility items run from bed mobility through transfers, graded walking distances, stairs, and wheelchair items. The walking distances and step counts are fixed test conditions, not approximations: 10 feet, 50 feet with two turns, and 150 feet are distinct items, as are 1, 4, and 12 steps.
Reference
| Item | Activity |
|---|---|
| A | Roll left and right |
| B | Sit to lying |
| C | Lying to sitting on side of bed |
| D | Sit to stand |
| E | Chair/bed-to-chair transfer |
| F | Toilet transfer |
| G | Car transfer |
| I | Walk 10 feet |
| J | Walk 50 feet with two turns |
| K | Walk 150 feet |
| L | Walking 10 feet on uneven surfaces |
| M | 1 step (curb) |
| N | 4 steps |
| O | 12 steps |
| P | Picking up object from floor |
| R | Wheel 50 feet with two turns |
| S | Wheel 150 feet |
Item letters per SNF MDS reporting; some letters are intentionally skipped in the CMS item set. Verify against the current RAI Manual Chapter 3 before clinical use.
Source: CMS RAI Manual (MDS 3.0)
Coding notes
- Walking and wheelchair items have gate questions; wheelchair items are only completed for residents who use a wheelchair or scooter.
- Toilet transfer is the on/off movement only; the hygiene around it codes under self-care toilet hygiene.
- Car transfer means getting in and out of a passenger seat, not driving, and is commonly assessed by simulation when no vehicle is available; document the method.
- The graded distances build discharge stories: a resident coding 04 at 10 feet and 02 at 150 feet is exactly what the item structure is designed to capture.
- Picking up an object is a standing-balance item: bending or stooping to lift a small object from the floor.
References
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Long-Term Care Facility Resident Assessment Instrument 3.0 User's Manual, Chapter 3, Section GG. Verify against the current version at cms.gov. cms.gov