Government Funding Bill Signed into Law – Telehealth Included
Once again, advocacy efforts have paid off as the final Government Funding Bill was signed into law (HR 7148) on ce again, advocacy efforts have paid off as the final Government Funding Bill was signed into law (HR 7148) on February 3, 2026. This includes a two-year extension of telehealth through December 31, 2027. Additional […]
CMS Update – Jan SNF Revalidation Deadline Suspended
CMS announced in its December 11 MLN Newsletter an indefinite suspension of the off-cycle January 1 SNF revalidation submission deadline. While the submission deadline is suspended, CMS guidance advises SNFs to continue collecting ownership data, as well as managerial and related party information, in preparation for future requirements. The following resources were included in CMS’s […]
FY 2026 SNF PDPM Rates – Now LIVE in Our Calculator
The final FY 2026 SNF PPS payment rate updates, effective October 1, 2025, are now integrated into our PDPM Rate Calculator, developed in collaboration with Data IQ. For your convenience, key updates are summarized below. Updates to Our PDPM Rate Calculator FY 2026 CMS Highlights SNF Payment Rate Changes ICD-10 Mapping Revisions SNF Value-Based Purchasing […]
Government Shutdown Impact on LTC Including Telehealth and Temporary Claims Hold
The Government failed to pass a Continuing Resolution by midnight on September 30th to fund the Government as of The Government failed to pass a Continuing Resolution (CR) by midnight on September 30, resulting in a lapse in funding effective October 1. This impacts our LTC sector in two key areas: Telehealth and a Temporary Claims […]
Updated Final RAI Manual v1.20.1
CMS has posted an updated version of the RAI Manual 1.20.1 with a few minor revisions you’ll want to note: If you previously downloaded the version effective 10/1/25, please replace it with the newly posted version available in the downloads section of the CMS website.
Key Updates in the October 1, 2025 RAI Manual
CMS has released the updated RAI Manual, effective October 1, 2025. Any previously downloaded copies need to be replaced with this final version to avoid confusion, as several notable changes were made. Top 3 Changes to Watch: Section Highlights You Should Know: Section A – Demographics & Transportation Section D – Mood Section GG – Functional […]
3 CMS Announcements
CMS has been busy releasing updates that are impacting SNFs in the immediate future. Sharing three below that were announced last week. Nursing Home Care Compare “Temporary Pause” Skilled Nursing Facility Random Data Validation Process: VBP and QRP Potential Impactor of 2% Annual Payment Update CMS Released Final MDS 3.0 Item Sets, Effective October 1, […]
CMS Approves a 3.2% Medicare Part A Rate Increase for SNFs
We have great news to share: CMS has finalized its SNF PPS rule, approving a 3.2% increase to Medicare Part A payments for FY 2026 effective October 1, 2025. That translates to approximately $1.16 billion! This is a clear win for providers, especially considering the 2.8% increase that was initially proposed. In a year full […]
Summertime Legislative Updates, Staffing Mandate & Care Compare and Survey Reporting Changes
Sharing a couple of items hitting the news recently surrounding the Staffing Mandate legal battle, a change in Care Compare Reporting announced by CMS, as well as Survey Reporting changes. Staffing Mandate – Another “Win” Similar to Texas District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk’s decision in April, District Judge Leonard Strand from Iowa ruled last week that […]
CMS Pushes Back Burdensome Mandatory SNF Revalidation
Late Tuesday, April 15th, an unanticipated but welcomed announcement hit newswires stating that CMS has pushed back the burdensome mandatory revalidation (Form 855A) submission for SNFs to August 1, 2025. McKnight’s also shared this news, reporting that only around 20% of providers have been able to submit thus far. Additional clarification within the revalidation guidance was […]