PDPM Grouper JAR Package V2.4000

This release was updated to support FY2026 ICD-10 codes which are used with MDS assessments with a target date on or after October 1, 2025. As part of this release, 487 clinical category mappings were added, 28 clinical category mappings were removed, and 34 clinical category mappings were modified. Additionally, 3 …

AAPACN Resources to Help Prepare for Oct. 1, 2025, MDS Changes

AAPACN Resources to Help Prepare for Oct. 1, 2025, MDS Changes The Long Term-Care Facility Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) 3.0 User’s Manual version 1.20.1 from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) goes into effect for nursing homes on Oct. 1, 2025. To ensure nurse assessment coordinators, directors of …

Oct. 2025 RAI User’s Manual – Unexpected Updates 

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 some of the unexpected changes released in the final draft of the RAI User’s Manual version …

Body of Knowledge for the Role of Director of Nursing Services in Long-Term Care

What does it take to be a successful DNS? AAPACN’s Body of Knowledge for the Role of Director of Nursing Services in Long-Term Care identifies, defines, and measures the core competencies required of DNSs practicing in SNFs. Review the tool and assess how you measure up today!

SNF QRP Measure Calculations and Reporting User’s Manual V7.0, Change Table, Risk Adjustment and Imputation Appendix Files, and HCC ICD-10 Crosswalks

The Skilled Nursing Facility Quality Reporting Program (SNF QRP) Measure Calculations and Reporting User’s Manual v7.0 and accompanying files are now available. These materials serve as an update to the specifications used to calculate quality measures that are included in the SNF QRP and will be effective beginning October 1, 2025.  The …

OIG: Nursing Homes Failed To Report 43 Percent of Falls With Major Injury and Hospitalization Among Their Medicare-Enrolled Residents

Issued on 09/15/2025 | Posted on 09/18/2025 | Report number: OEI-05-24-00180 Report Materials Why OIG Did This Review What OIG Found Nursing homes failed to report 43 percent of falls with major injury and hospitalization among Medicare-enrolled residents, as required, in resident assessments. Nursing homes’ failure to report falls on MDS assessments leads to inaccurate fall …

TIP: CMS Delayed Long-Stay Antipsychotic Measure Changes

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a revised memo, QSO-25-20-NH REVISED, on Sept. 10, 2025, delaying the changes to the long-stay (LS) Antipsychotic Measure. CMS had previously announced the measure would be expanded to include Medicare and Medicaid claims and encounter data, in addition to Minimum Data …

Q&A: We had a resident on a Medicare Part A stay admit and discharge back to the hospital that same evening after a few hours. We could not assess much information during that brief amount of time. What are all the required MDS assessments that need to be completed on this resident? I know an entry tracker and an OBRA discharge, but do we need to also complete a 5-Day PPS?

Question: We had a resident on a Medicare Part A stay admit and discharge back to the hospital that same evening after a few hours. We could not assess much information during that brief amount of time. What are all the required MDS assessments that need to be completed on …

Q&A: The new definition of a fall includes an overwhelming external force, but the definition of fracture related to a fall states, “Do not include fractures caused by trauma related to car crashes or pedestrian versus car accidents or impact of another person or object against the resident.” Does this instruction contradict the new definition of a fall?

Question: The new definition of a fall includes an overwhelming external force, but the definition of fracture related to a fall states, “Do not include fractures caused by trauma related to car crashes or pedestrian versus car accidents or impact of another person or object against the resident.” Does this instruction …

MDS Item J2100 Feeds Into PDPM: Learn What’s at Stake and How to Boost Accuracy

MDS item J2100 (Did the Resident Have a Major Surgical Procedure During the Prior Inpatient Hospital Stay That Requires Active Care During the SNF Stay?) is the gateway question for receiving enhanced reimbursement in the Physical Therapy (PT) and Occupational Therapy (OT) payment components of the Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM), …