State Operations Manual Update: Chapter 7

Transmittal # R244SOMA Issue Date 2026-06-26 Subject Revisions to State Operations Manual (SOM), Chapter 7 Implementation Date r2026-06-26 CR # N/A Publication # 100-07 Transmittal Year 2026 Downloads I. SUMMARY OF CHANGES: CMS updated and revised guidance in chapter 7 of the SOM that includes: CMS also added guidance previously found in Appendix …

CDC TRAIN: Free Continuing Education to Support Safer Healthcare Practices

Healthcare personnel play a critical role in preventing infections, improving patient outcomes, and advancing healthcare quality. CDC TRAIN, a national learning management system, offers free, on-demand training courses designed to help healthcare professionals strengthen their knowledge and skills in areas that support patient safety, infection prevention, healthcare quality, and public health practice. Many …

CDC Local-Level COVID-19 Transmission Estimates

CDC’s Center for Forecasting and Outbreak Analytics (CFA), in collaboration with the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), has launched sub-state, Local-Level COVID-19 Transmission Estimates (Rt)—providing public health partners with earlier, more locally relevant insight into changes in disease transmission.  CFA’s epidemic trend website maps out the time-varying …

No Script, No Limits: Open Q&A with AAPACN Nurse Experts – June 25, 2026

Members: $25 | Non-members: $50Continuing Education: This webinar is not eligible for CEsRecording Date: June 25, 2026Duration: 90 minutesSpeakers: Jessie McGill, RN, BSN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, Jennifer LaBay, RN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, CRC, and Lauren Stenson, DNP, RN, CNDLTC, QCP, DNS-CT Watch the recording of AAPACN’s live, unscripted Q&A session with our …

iQIES will Implement an Inactive User Policy

To: iQIES Users, CMS Staff Inactive iQIES User Accounts CMS security policy requires iQIES to deactivate user roles for inactive accounts. To meet this requirement, iQIES will apply an inactive user policy beginning this month. This policy helps CMS keep the system safe and secure. How the Policy Works You …

Extended Q&A from the April 30, 2026 AAPACN Webinar, Declutter Your Coding: Spring Cleaning Tips for ICD-10-CM Success in LTC

In this LTC NAC Chat podcast episode, Jessie McGill, RN, BSN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, senior curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, and Jennifer LaBay, RN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, CRC, curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, continue to answer questions from the AAPACN webinar, Declutter Your Coding: Spring Cleaning Tips for ICD-10-CM Success in LTC, which was presented April 30, 2026.

Q&A: Can IV chemotherapy be excluded from consolidated billing during a Part A stay?

Question: Can IV chemotherapy be excluded from consolidated billing during a Part A stay? Answer from Jennifer LaBay, RN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, CRC: Exclusion for chemotherapy is based on the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) code as long as the chemotherapy is not delivered in the SNF. You certainly can …

Q&A: What costs should be included when explaining a SNF ABN to a resident?

Question: I have always thought that delivery of the SNF ABN (CMS – 10055) notice offers the Medicare recipient the opportunity to pay for the Medicare Part A services being cut. I was told the cost should only include the daily bed rate. How should I explain this notice to …

Q&A: If a resident revokes hospice services, does the ARD need to be scheduled to avoid coding hospice in O0110K?

Question: If a resident revokes hospice services, does the ARD need to be scheduled to avoid coding hospice in O0110K? Answer from Carol Maher, RN, GERO-BC, RAC-MTA, RAC-MT, CPC: The Significant Change in Status Assessment (SCSA) to come off hospice must be completed within 14 days of the end of …