What to Expect at the AAPACN 2026 Conference: Highlights, What’s New, Can’t-Miss Sessions, and More

DNS / Podcast

In the LTC DON Chat podcast episode, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, Denise Winzeler, BSN, RN, LNHA, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, director of education and certification for AAPACN, and Lauren Stenson, MSN, RN, CNDLTC, QCP, DNS-CT, curriculum development for AAPACN, share some of the …

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Falls with Major Injury: Updated Definitions, Quality Measure Impacts, and an AAPACN Conference Session Sneak Peak

NAC / Podcast / QAPI and Quality Initiatives

In this LTC NAC Chat podcast episode, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Jessie McGill, RN, BSN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, senior curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, discuss falls with major injury and a sneak peek into McGill’s breakout session at the AAPACN 2026 …

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Q&A: Is a Significant Change in Status Assessment (SCSA) required for a new pressure ulcer?

MDS 3.0 and the RAI Process / NAC / Q&A

Question: Is a Significant Change in Status Assessment (SCSA) required for a new pressure ulcer? Answer from Jennifer LaBay RN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, QCP, CRC: A Significant Change in Status Assessment is required if there are two or more areas of decline or improvement that will not resolve on its own …

Q&A: When a resident changes payers from Medicare Advantage to Traditional Medicare, are the Medicare Advantage days subtracted from the Medicare 100-day benefit period?

Billing and Reimbursement / NAC / Q&A

Question: When a resident changes payers from Medicare Advantage to Traditional Medicare, are the Medicare Advantage days subtracted from the Medicare 100-day benefit period? Answer from Carol Maher, RN, GERO-BC, RAC-MTA, RAC-MT, CPC: Yes, days billed under Medicare Advantage are subtracted from the resident’s 100-day benefit period. This AAPACN resource …

Q&A: If a Discharge – return not anticipated was completed for a resident discharge against medical advice (AMA), and he returned less than 30 days later, is a new OBRA Admission assessment required?

MDS 3.0 and the RAI Process / NAC / Q&A

Question: If a Discharge – return not anticipated was completed for a resident discharge against medical advice (AMA), and he returned less than 30 days later, is a new OBRA Admission assessment required? Answer from Jessie McGill RN, BSN, RAC-MTA, RAC-CTA: When the OBRA discharge is named “Return not anticipated” …

TIP: Consolidated Billing Updates for 2026

Billing and Reimbursement / NAC / Tip

Consolidated billing specifies that the SNF is the responsible party for the billing of the entire package of care the resident receives during a covered Part A SNF stay, as well as identifies a limited number of services specifically excluded from consolidated billing, and therefore, separately payable. The Centers for …

Five-Star and Care Compare MDS 3.0 Quality Measure Data Periods

NAC / QAPI and Quality Initiatives / Tool

Care Compare refreshes MDS 3.0 Quality Measure (QM) data quarterly in January, April, July, and October with the most recent four full quarters of data. AAPACN’s Five-Star and Care Compare MDS 3.0 Quality Measure Data Periods tools identify exactly which quarters will be publicly reported and used in Five-Star with each Care …

iQIES MDS Error Message Reference Guide and Message List v1.1

MDS 3.0 and the RAI Process / NAC / Post-Acute Care News

This user guide addresses Minimum Data Set (MDS) error messages and troubleshooting. iQIES MDS Error Message Reference Guide v1.1 (posted 12/29/2025) iQIES MDS Error Messages v1.1 (posted 12/29/2025) From https://qtso.cms.gov/providers/nursing-home-mdsswing-bed-providers/reference-manuals

SNF QRP/SNF VBP: CMS Video Offers MDS Data Validation Process Overview

Billing and Reimbursement / DNS / MDS 3.0 and the RAI Process / NAC / Post-Acute Care News

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is offering a recorded presentation which describes the new data validation process. This training will support facilities in understanding the purpose and structure of the data validation process including the notification and submission process, required activities for selected SNFs, and where to …

 AHRQ Toolkit for Improving Skin Care and MDRO Prevention in LTC Includes Tabletop Game

Clinical Care Solutions / DNS / Infection Control / NAC / Post-Acute Care News

From AHRQ: A new tabletop game turns infection prevention training into a collaborative, story-driven escape room. When players notice a change in a resident’s skin, they work together to interact with environmental services staff, a physician, an infection preventionist, and a resident while revisiting core topics such as skin assessment, …