Ancillary Billing Review Checklist

The director of nursing services should review ancillary billing monthly to ensure that all billed services and supplies are clinically appropriate, documented accurately, and supported by skilled nursing care. The DNS can use this Ancillary Billing Review Checklist to help confirm compliance with Medicare Part A and Part B rules, …

CMS QSO Memo: Updates to Chapters 5 and 7 of the State Operations Manual (Revised)

Memo # QSO-26-03-NH REVISED Posting Date 2026-04-03 Fiscal Year 2026 Downloads AAPACN note: Some of the key revisions in red from the memo are excerpted below. There are a number of significant changes to the chapters themselves, including a number of new definitions. Enforcement Guidance: Revises policies for Civil Money Penalties (CMP) to …

MDS 3.0 Quality Measures (QM) User’s Manual v18.0 Effective Jan. 1, 2026 and Associated Files — Plus Errata

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is publishing an errata change table document to the Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 Quality Measures (QM) User’s Manual v18.0, related to the clarification of details for the Long-Stay Antipsychotic measure in Chapter 1, Section 6. This errata is being issued to …

ABN (Form CMS-R-131) for Part B SNF Services

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved the control number for the Advance Beneficiary Notice of Non-coverage (ABN) (CMS-R-131).  CMS is notifying the industry through our website, and the Medicare Learning Network and has posted the updated version of the ABN below. The updated ABN is effective now …

OIG: Nursing Homes’ Inappropriate Use of Antipsychotic Drugs Poses a Risk to Residents

Report Materials Why OIG Did This Review What OIG Found OIG’s comprehensive review of 40 focused nursing home inspections completed by CMS found alarming instances of inappropriate use of antipsychotic drugs and revealed vulnerabilities in care that have implications for the wider nursing home population beyond these examples. Our review …

OIG: Nursing Homes Inappropriately Diagnosed Residents with Schizophrenia to Mask the Misuse of Antipsychotic Drugs

Report Materials Why OIG Did This Review What OIG Found OIG’s comprehensive review of 40 nursing home inspections completed by CMS found instances of nursing homes inappropriately diagnosing residents with schizophrenia. Specifically, our review of these inspections found instances in which: What OIG Recommends OIG recommends that CMS: CMS did …

CDC Water-related Healthcare Outbreak Response Tool

In the Water-related Healthcare Outbreak Response Tool, you will find key considerations for investigating an outbreak and identifying possible exposures, coordinating with essential partners, and implementing targeted interventions to stop transmission. This tool is hospital-focused but often applicable to nursing homes. Learn more: https://www.cdc.gov/healthcare-associated-infections/php/toolkit/water-management.html

iQIES Onboarding Process – Provider Security Official Update

Overview This job aid provides the steps involved to onboard the Provider Security Official (PSO) Role in iQIES. ● For detailed information on onboarding, refer to iQIES Onboarding Guide. ● For detailed information about user roles, refer to User Roles Matrix on the iQIES Help page. ● A red asterisk …

CMS QSSAM memo: Reminder: Upcoming Deadline for Sprinkler System Requirement

Reminder: Upcoming Deadline for Sprinkler System Requirement for Existing Health Care Occupancies in High-Rise Buildings Memo # QSSAM-26-02-ALL Posting Date 2026-03-09 Fiscal Year 2026 Downloads Memorandum Summary • This memorandum is intended to remind CMS-certified facilities classified by the Life Safety Code (LSC) as existing heath care occupancies and located …