Nursing home residents are at risk of developing infections that can lead to sepsis, which is a medical emergency requiring immediate attention to prevent severe morbidity and mortality. The Sepsis Prevention Assessment Tool (SPAT) for Nursing Homes released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), identifies gaps in …
Start your AAPACN 2026 Conference experience now—download the free AAPACN Conference app! It’s your one-stop hub for everything you need, from selecting sessions to accessing handouts. Plan ahead by selecting the sessions that matter most to you. Preselecting sessions also helps AAPACN ensure there are enough seats for all who …
The January 2026 Care Compare refresh was originally scheduled for Jan. 28, 2026, but was delayed due to an issue with one of the data sets until Feb. 5, 2026. This refresh also brought updated Five-Star Provider Reports, even though the date and time stamp on the reports did not …
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has provided a new definition for what “Up to Date” means regarding the COVID-19 vaccination. Effective for the reporting period that began on Dec. 29, 2025, the new criteria to be “Up to Date” include the following: Individuals aged 65 years and …
The January Care Compare refresh, scheduled for Jan. 28, 2026, was delayed. In an email response, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) BetterCare stated “[they] identified an issue with one of the data files scheduled for the January 28, 2026, Nursing Home Care Compare refresh. As a result, …
In late January, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) revised the memo QSO-23-01-NH, changing the selection criteria for the Special Focus Facility (SFF) program from staffing to falls. In the memo, CMS noted: CMS is revising the focus area for selection to emphasize the prevalence of falls among …
The Advanced Beneficiary Notice of Noncoverage (ABN), form CMS-R-131, is used by nursing facilities when Medicare Part B services are ending and the resident does not agree with the decision. The current form, posted on the FFS ABN webpage, expires on Jan. 31, 2026, but an updated form has not …
On Jan. 12, 2026, the first wave of Skilled Nursing Facility Quality Reporting Program (SNF QRP) validation audits notifications arrived in the iQIES MDS 3.0 Provider Preview Reports folder for some facilities. While 1,500 randomly selected facilities will receive this audit, not all were included in this first wave. For …
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is offering a recorded presentation that describes the new data validation process. This training will support skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) in understanding the purpose and structure of the data validation process including the notification and submission process, required activities for selected SNFs, …
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 …
