MDS Section GG cheat sheet and printable worksheet for SNF admissions.
This guide covers MDS Section GG for SNF admissions. Section GG (Functional Abilities and Goals) is where functional performance is documented on the MDS: self-care, mobility, therapy, and details that feed PDPM planning. In admissions, those details are useful only when staff can verify them against the referral packet, payer context, and facility capacity.
The Section GG codes at a glance
Section GG (Functional Abilities and Goals) records a resident's usual performance on self-care and mobility items using a six-level scale, plus four "activity was not attempted" codes. Use the table below as a quick reference, then confirm details against the current CMS RAI Manual.
| GG code | Meaning | What it indicates |
|---|---|---|
| 06 | Independent | Resident completes the activity with no helper assistance. |
| 05 | Setup or clean-up assistance | Helper assists only before or after; resident does the activity. |
| 04 | Supervision or touching assistance | Helper gives verbal cues or steadying / contact-guard help. |
| 03 | Partial / moderate assistance | Helper does less than half the effort. |
| 02 | Substantial / maximal assistance | Helper does more than half the effort. |
| 01 | Dependent | Helper does all the effort, or two or more helpers are required. |
| 07 | Refused | Resident refused to complete the activity. |
| 09 | Not applicable | Not attempted, and the resident did not perform this activity before the current illness, exacerbation, or injury. |
| 10 | Not attempted (environment) | Environmental limitations prevented the activity. |
| 88 | Not attempted (medical / safety) | A medical condition or safety concern prevented the activity. |
Source: CMS RAI Manual
The six performance levels (06 down to 01) describe how much help a resident needs; the 07, 09, 10, and 88 codes record why an activity was not attempted. In admissions, these GG codes help staff sanity-check whether a referral packet's functional story matches the therapy notes and the expected level of care, which also feeds PDPM classification planning.
Printable Section GG admissions verification worksheet
A one-page, PHI-free reference your team can print or save as a PDF and keep at the desk during referral packet review. It pairs the GG performance scale with the questions staff check against source documents. It is a reference only, not coding, clinical, compliance, or reimbursement advice. Confirm MDS rules against the current CMS RAI Manual and your facility policies.
VeriSight Analytics™ · AdmitScore™
Section GG admissions verification worksheet
Use de-identified notes only. No names, initials, room numbers, or dates of birth anywhere on this sheet. Reference referrals by your internal tracking number. Do not record PHI on a printed sheet you cannot secure.
GG performance scale (quick reference)
- 06 Independent: no helper assistance
- 05 Setup / clean-up assistance only
- 04 Supervision or touching assistance
- 03 Partial / moderate assistance
- 02 Substantial / maximal assistance
- 01 Dependent: helper does all, or two+ helpers
Activity-not-attempted codes: 07 refused · 09 not applicable · 10 environment · 88 medical / safety. Confirm against the current CMS RAI Manual.
Packet-vs-documentation check
- Current therapy (PT / OT) documentation present Y / N
- Nursing notes support the stated level of care Y / N
- Functional story matches hospital course and goals Y / N
- Prior level of function documented Y / N
Self-care and mobility items to confirm
| Item area | Packet says | Verified? |
|---|---|---|
| Eating / oral hygiene / toileting | Y / N | |
| Sit-to-stand and transfers | Y / N | |
| Walking / wheelchair mobility | Y / N | |
| Bathing and dressing | Y / N |
Payer and authorization follow-ups
Open questions before acceptance
Decision path: Accept Request clarification Hold for review
Reference only. Not coding, clinical, compliance, or reimbursement advice. Facility staff make final decisions. © 2026 VeriSight Analytics.
Section GG points to payment and care questions before you accept
SNF teams often receive incomplete or inconsistent referral packets. Section GG language, therapy notes, prior level of function, and payer requirements can each raise a question to settle with the hospital, the payer, or your own team. PDPM and functional-status details are planning context for administrators. They do not guarantee reimbursement and are not clinical acceptance rules. Five checks to run:
Questions about Section GG and AdmitScore
Does Section GG decide whether a facility should accept a referral?
No. It is one input among several, and staff verify payer, authorization, clinical documentation, care needs, and staffing before deciding.
Is AdmitScore an MDS or PDPM coding tool?
No. It does not code the MDS or replace your MDS coordinator.
Where this fits
AdmitScore is part of admissions review: it helps staff find payer, authorization, documentation, and follow-up questions in a referral packet, and staff verify each one at the source. It works alongside whatever you use for managing inbound referrals and does not replace your EHR.