iQIES Assessment Management: Assessment Submitter Manual

This document shows how to upload assessments, create and manage assessments, complete change requests, review Final Validation Reports (FVR), and use the Validation Utility Tool (VUT) in iQIES. Jun 24, 2026 From https://qtso.cms.gov/software/iqies/reference-manuals

OIG to do Nationwide Analysis of Antipsychotic Drug Use in Nursing Homes

Announced on 06/29/2026 | Last Modified on 06/29/2026 | Project Number: OEI-02-23-00202 Status Active Agency Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services OBJECTIVE The overuse of antipsychotic drugs presents a risk to nursing home residents, particularly those with dementia.  These drugs are not approved to treat dementia, and the Food and Drug Administration has warned that …

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 …

LTCSP Survey Resources: Surveyor Tools Updated

This ZIP file contains resources for surveyors conducting initial surveys under the Long-term Care Survey Process (LTCSP). It is a one-stop shop containing a multitude of reference materials that are provided to the surveyors going into facilities, including, for example, a document detailing their principles of documentation, a document showing …

OIG: CMS’s Processes Didn’t Ensure Accuracy of PBJ-Reported Staffing Data

Report number: A-09-24-02005 Report Materials Why OIG Did This Audit What OIG Found Not all nursing homes’ RN staffing hours reported in CMS’s PBJ were supported in accordance with Federal requirements. On the basis of our sample results, we estimated for our sampling frame that for March 2024 nursing homes …

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 …

Out-of-the-Box Ways to Appreciate Nursing Staff on a Budget

Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element. Showing appreciation for nursing staff doesn’t have to be defined by the size of an organization’s budget. What’s important is the thoughtfulness behind the recognition. In a profession characterized by long shifts, emotional demands, and constant change, meaningful …