AANAC RAC-CT MDS COORDINATOR CERTIFICATION EXAM ACTUAL
EXAM 2026/2027 - COMPLETE QUESTION SAMPLE WITH ANSWERS AND
DETAILED RATIONALES FOR HIGH-YIELD DOMAINS INCLUDING OBRA,
150 QUESTIONS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
# TOPIC
1 Apply OBRA and PPS regulations to accurately complete the MDS 3
2 Analyze CAA triggers and ICD-10-CM coding guidelines to develop individualized care plans
3 Evaluate Five-Star Quality Rating System metrics and discharge planning processes to optimize facility
performance and resident outcomes
4 AANAC RAC
5 CT MDS COORDINATOR CERTIFICATION EXAM ACTUAL EXAM 2026
6 2027
7 COMPLETE QUESTION SAMPLE WITH ANSWERS AND DETAILED RATIONALES FOR HIGH
8 YIELD DOMAINS INCLUDING OBRA
9 CAAs
10 FIVE
11 STAR
12 DISCHARGE
13 Foundations of Long-Term Care MDS Coordination and Reimbursement
14 Applied Long-Term Care MDS Coordination and Reimbursement
15 Advanced Long-Term Care MDS Coordination and Reimbursement
16 Long-Term Care MDS Coordination and Reimbursement Review
ABSTRACT
Page 1
,This study document brings together 150 carefully worded exam questions drawn from AANAC
RAC-CT MDS COORDINATOR CERTIFICATION EXAM ACTUAL EXAM 2026/2027 - COMPLETE
QUESTION SAMPLE WITH ANSWERS AND DETAILED RATIONALES FOR HIGH-YIELD
DOMAINS INCLUDING OBRA, PPS, CAAs, FIVE-STAR, ICD-10, DISCHARGE, with the strongest
emphasis placed on Apply OBRA and PPS regulations to accurately complete the MDS 3, Analyze
CAA triggers and ICD-10-CM coding guidelines to develop individualized care plans and Evaluate
Five-Star Quality Rating System metrics and discharge planning processes to optimize facility
performance and resident outcomes. Every item follows the wording style and level of reasoning
you meet in the real paper, and each one is paired with a clear rationale so the correct choice is
never a guess. Work through the set at your own pace, mark the questions that slow you down,
then come back to them until the reasoning feels automatic. Learners who revise this way walk into
the exam room recognising the pattern behind the questions instead of meeting them for the first
time. Keep going - steady, honest practice is what turns a difficult paper into a comfortable pass.
Q1 APPLY OBRA AND PPS REGULATIONS TO ACCURATELY COMPLETE THE MDS 3
Under OBRA, which MDS 3.0 assessment type requires completion when a
resident experiences a significant change in status?
A. Admission assessment
B. Quarterly assessment
C. Significant change in status assessment CORRECT
D. Annual assessment
RATIONALE: OBRA regulations mandate a significant change in status assessment when a
resident's condition substantially changes, requiring a new comprehensive evaluation.
Admission, quarterly, and annual assessments do not specifically address unplanned significant
changes.
Page 2
,Q2 APPLY OBRA AND PPS REGULATIONS TO ACCURATELY COMPLETE THE MDS 3
In PPS, what is the primary purpose of the MDS 3.0 assessment for Medicare
reimbursement?
A. To determine the resident's clinical care needs only
B. To assign a Resource Utilization Group (RUG) category CORRECT
C. To calculate the case-mix index for Medicaid
D. To establish the facility's Five-Star rating
RATIONALE: Under PPS, the MDS 3.0 is used to classify residents into Resource Utilization
Groups (RUGs) for Medicare payment. It is not solely for clinical needs, Medicaid case-mix, or
Five-Star ratings.
Q3 APPLY OBRA AND PPS REGULATIONS TO ACCURATELY COMPLETE THE MDS 3
Which of the following best describes the role of Care Area Assessments (CAAs)
in the RAI process?
A. They determine the MDS assessment schedule.
B. They trigger specific care plan interventions based on MDS responses. CORRECT
C. They calculate the facility's quality measure scores.
D. They provide the basis for ICD-10 coding.
RATIONALE: CAAs are triggered by specific MDS items and guide the interdisciplinary team in
developing individualized care plans. They do not set assessment schedules, calculate quality
measures, or directly determine ICD-10 codes.
Page 3
, Q4 APPLY OBRA AND PPS REGULATIONS TO ACCURATELY COMPLETE THE MDS 3
In the Five-Star Quality Rating System, which domain is derived from MDS-based
quality measures?
A. Health Inspection domain
B. Staffing domain
C. Quality Measure domain CORRECT
D. Overall Rating domain
RATIONALE: The Quality Measure domain uses MDS and Medicare claims data to calculate
performance on specific quality indicators. Health Inspection and Staffing domains rely on survey
and payroll data, respectively.
Q5 APPLY OBRA AND PPS REGULATIONS TO ACCURATELY COMPLETE THE MDS 3
When coding ICD-10-CM for a resident with diabetic neuropathy, which guideline
applies?
A. Code only the neuropathy as the principal diagnosis.
B. Code the diabetes and neuropathy separately, linking them. CORRECT
C. Code the diabetes as the principal diagnosis only.
D. Use an unspecified code for both conditions.
RATIONALE: ICD-10-CM guidelines require coding both the diabetes and the manifestation
(neuropathy) with a combination code or linked codes to reflect the causal relationship. Coding
only one condition or using unspecified codes is incorrect.
Page 4
EXAM 2026/2027 - COMPLETE QUESTION SAMPLE WITH ANSWERS AND
DETAILED RATIONALES FOR HIGH-YIELD DOMAINS INCLUDING OBRA,
150 QUESTIONS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
# TOPIC
1 Apply OBRA and PPS regulations to accurately complete the MDS 3
2 Analyze CAA triggers and ICD-10-CM coding guidelines to develop individualized care plans
3 Evaluate Five-Star Quality Rating System metrics and discharge planning processes to optimize facility
performance and resident outcomes
4 AANAC RAC
5 CT MDS COORDINATOR CERTIFICATION EXAM ACTUAL EXAM 2026
6 2027
7 COMPLETE QUESTION SAMPLE WITH ANSWERS AND DETAILED RATIONALES FOR HIGH
8 YIELD DOMAINS INCLUDING OBRA
9 CAAs
10 FIVE
11 STAR
12 DISCHARGE
13 Foundations of Long-Term Care MDS Coordination and Reimbursement
14 Applied Long-Term Care MDS Coordination and Reimbursement
15 Advanced Long-Term Care MDS Coordination and Reimbursement
16 Long-Term Care MDS Coordination and Reimbursement Review
ABSTRACT
Page 1
,This study document brings together 150 carefully worded exam questions drawn from AANAC
RAC-CT MDS COORDINATOR CERTIFICATION EXAM ACTUAL EXAM 2026/2027 - COMPLETE
QUESTION SAMPLE WITH ANSWERS AND DETAILED RATIONALES FOR HIGH-YIELD
DOMAINS INCLUDING OBRA, PPS, CAAs, FIVE-STAR, ICD-10, DISCHARGE, with the strongest
emphasis placed on Apply OBRA and PPS regulations to accurately complete the MDS 3, Analyze
CAA triggers and ICD-10-CM coding guidelines to develop individualized care plans and Evaluate
Five-Star Quality Rating System metrics and discharge planning processes to optimize facility
performance and resident outcomes. Every item follows the wording style and level of reasoning
you meet in the real paper, and each one is paired with a clear rationale so the correct choice is
never a guess. Work through the set at your own pace, mark the questions that slow you down,
then come back to them until the reasoning feels automatic. Learners who revise this way walk into
the exam room recognising the pattern behind the questions instead of meeting them for the first
time. Keep going - steady, honest practice is what turns a difficult paper into a comfortable pass.
Q1 APPLY OBRA AND PPS REGULATIONS TO ACCURATELY COMPLETE THE MDS 3
Under OBRA, which MDS 3.0 assessment type requires completion when a
resident experiences a significant change in status?
A. Admission assessment
B. Quarterly assessment
C. Significant change in status assessment CORRECT
D. Annual assessment
RATIONALE: OBRA regulations mandate a significant change in status assessment when a
resident's condition substantially changes, requiring a new comprehensive evaluation.
Admission, quarterly, and annual assessments do not specifically address unplanned significant
changes.
Page 2
,Q2 APPLY OBRA AND PPS REGULATIONS TO ACCURATELY COMPLETE THE MDS 3
In PPS, what is the primary purpose of the MDS 3.0 assessment for Medicare
reimbursement?
A. To determine the resident's clinical care needs only
B. To assign a Resource Utilization Group (RUG) category CORRECT
C. To calculate the case-mix index for Medicaid
D. To establish the facility's Five-Star rating
RATIONALE: Under PPS, the MDS 3.0 is used to classify residents into Resource Utilization
Groups (RUGs) for Medicare payment. It is not solely for clinical needs, Medicaid case-mix, or
Five-Star ratings.
Q3 APPLY OBRA AND PPS REGULATIONS TO ACCURATELY COMPLETE THE MDS 3
Which of the following best describes the role of Care Area Assessments (CAAs)
in the RAI process?
A. They determine the MDS assessment schedule.
B. They trigger specific care plan interventions based on MDS responses. CORRECT
C. They calculate the facility's quality measure scores.
D. They provide the basis for ICD-10 coding.
RATIONALE: CAAs are triggered by specific MDS items and guide the interdisciplinary team in
developing individualized care plans. They do not set assessment schedules, calculate quality
measures, or directly determine ICD-10 codes.
Page 3
, Q4 APPLY OBRA AND PPS REGULATIONS TO ACCURATELY COMPLETE THE MDS 3
In the Five-Star Quality Rating System, which domain is derived from MDS-based
quality measures?
A. Health Inspection domain
B. Staffing domain
C. Quality Measure domain CORRECT
D. Overall Rating domain
RATIONALE: The Quality Measure domain uses MDS and Medicare claims data to calculate
performance on specific quality indicators. Health Inspection and Staffing domains rely on survey
and payroll data, respectively.
Q5 APPLY OBRA AND PPS REGULATIONS TO ACCURATELY COMPLETE THE MDS 3
When coding ICD-10-CM for a resident with diabetic neuropathy, which guideline
applies?
A. Code only the neuropathy as the principal diagnosis.
B. Code the diabetes and neuropathy separately, linking them. CORRECT
C. Code the diabetes as the principal diagnosis only.
D. Use an unspecified code for both conditions.
RATIONALE: ICD-10-CM guidelines require coding both the diabetes and the manifestation
(neuropathy) with a combination code or linked codes to reflect the causal relationship. Coding
only one condition or using unspecified codes is incorrect.
Page 4
