Conference Recording Bundle

AAPACN 2026 Conference Recording Bundle

Breakout Sessions Featuring LTPAC Experts

Experience all the education from the AAPACN 2026 Conference. The AAPACN 2026 Conference Recording Bundle includes all 30 education sessions and two general catalyst sessions featuring LTPAC subject-matter experts bundled into a recorded package for learning on-demand. Session recordings are a compilation of audio and video recordings from the live session, plus any Q&A that followed – all accessible in your AAPACN Learner Dashboard for up to one year.

General Catalyst Sessions

The general catalyst sessions included are as follows:

Human Over Hollywood: The Story Inside the Shift | Peter Murphy Lewis, Speaker, CMO, Author, and Documentarian

When real caregivers tell real stories, outsiders listen—and insiders feel proud. In this presentation, Peter Murphy Lewis shares five unforgettable clips from the multi-season documentary People Worth Caring About and the surprising audience reactions behind them. Through funny, tender, and true moments—including the refrain “just a CNA”—you will see how ordinary titles mask extraordinary impact. Peter weaves lessons from training as a CNA with the documentary’s journey to millions of viewers, streaming platforms, and press—reminding us that what happens inside a single shift can change how the world sees care.

Build with Care: Unlocking the Multiplier of High-Performing Teams | Danny Goldberg, Workplace Performance Strategist and Leadership Expert

The best teams know they’re already good: talented people, clear commitment, strong results. But they also sense there’s another level possible — a level where collaboration doesn’t just add value, it multiplies it. That’s the power of being Better Together. When the right conditions exist — Safety, Understanding, and Connection — teams stop protecting and start unleashing. Performance compounds. Innovation accelerates. Trust deepens. Retention strengthens. Outcomes multiply. Through his High Performance Operating System™, Workplace Performance Strategist and Leadership Expert Danny Goldberg will equip leaders and teams with a proven, practical system to break silos, build trust, and unlock performance at scale. Blending powerful stories with actionable strategies, he shows how to transform individual talent into collective power.

Education Sessions

The education sessions included are as follows:

All Things GG! | Andrea O’Neill, RN, RAC-CT, RAC-CTA, Cornerstone Clinical Consulting

With rising scrutiny over PDPM reimbursement and quality metrics, accurate section GG scoring is more critical than ever to safeguard revenue and demonstrate clinical performance. During this session, the speaker will explore how section GG scoring accuracy directly impacts PDPM reimbursement, case-mix credit, and regulatory performance. You will learn to identify common ADL coding errors, understand financial consequences across payers, and apply strategies to improve scoring precision for Medicare and Medicaid alignment. Following this session, you’ll be able to:

• Learn differences between therapy and nursing function score, and how to calculate each
• Recognize nursing categories that drop to a lower nursing group altogether depending on the section GG score
• Discuss section GG levels of assist definitions, per the RAI User’s Manual
• Identify key systems for IDT section GG review

Changing Tides of Quality Initiatives: Antipsychotics, Validation Audits, and TEPs | Tammy Cassidy, RN, BSN, LNHA, RAC-MT, CEAL, Ohio Health Care Association, and Jennifer Napier, BSN, RN, RAC-CT, RAC-CTA, QCP, Engage Consulting

Nursing leadership in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) must stay informed on evolving CMS Quality Initiatives. Quality now plays a key role in reimbursement through Value-Based Purchasing (VBP) and Quality Incentive Programs as well as impacting the Five-Star Program. The speakers will dive into FY 2026 changes include claims-based adjustments to the MDS 3.0 antipsychotic measure, CMS Validation Audits for QRP and VBP, and potential reclassification of the fall with major injury measure with a newly released Technical Expert Panel (TEP). You will understand that these shifts signal ongoing measure updates and recognize how facilities must adapt as CMS aims to streamline data inputs and improve accuracy in quality reporting calculations. Following this session, you’ll be able to:

• Identify changes to the long-stay antipsychotic MDS 3.0 measure, including new claims-based updates in the Five-Star Program
• Identify key components to the Validation Audits expected to begin in Fall 2025

Five-Star for Smarties: Data Driven Improvement | Monica Walsh, RPT, RAC-CT and RAC-CTA, Regency Integrated Health Service, and Dahlia Kroth, AHCA Gold Quality Examiner, AHCA Quality Award Board Member, Strategic Healthcare Programs

With CMS Five-Star ratings directly influencing facility reimbursements, referrals, and public perception, mastering data-driven quality improvement strategies has become essential for facilities to maintain competitive advantage and ensure sustainable operations in today’s value-based healthcare environment. Nurses are the frontline architects of quality outcomes—their daily documentation, clinical decisions, and care delivery directly generate the MDS data and quality metrics that determine Five Star ratings, making their engagement in data literacy and improvement processes critical to achieving and sustaining excellence in CMS performance measures. Following this session, you’ll be able to:

• Identify CMS Five-Star program criteria, monitoring strategies, complexities, and opportunities to impact quality improvement measures
• Recognize how MDS data impacts Quality Outcomes and identify data-driven opportunities for root cause analysis and improvement
• Analyze CMS Quality Measure criteria and develop proactive strategies to drive meaningful performance improvements and better outcomes
• Leverage data tools and processes to positively impact Five-Star ratings, Quality Measures, and QRP Discharge Function Scores

Reimbursement and Outcomes in Harmony: Aligning Therapy, Nursing, and the IDT | Sabrena McCarley, MBA-SL, OTR/L, CLIPP, RAC-CT, QCP, FAOTA, RAC-CTA, Transitional Care Management, and Maureen McCarthy, RN, BS, RAC-MT, QCP-MT, DNS-MT, RAC-MTA, Celtic Consulting, AAPACN board chair

In today’s complex regulatory and reimbursement landscape, collaboration between therapy, nursing, and the IDT is critical to achieving optimal outcomes while maintaining compliance. In this session, the speakers will examine how integrated workflows under PDPM and managed care improve outcomes, compliance, and financial performance. Through real-world examples and tools, the speakers will highlight best practices that enhance documentation, reduce risk, and support a unified approach to care. Gain actionable strategies to strengthen IDT alignment and elevate the resident experience. Following this session, you’ll be able to:

• Describe how therapy and nursing collaboration impacts key components of PDPM, including MDS accuracy and reimbursement outcomes
• Identify common documentation gaps between therapy and nursing that can affect compliance, audits, and Five-Star metrics
• Apply strategies to improve interdisciplinary communication and care planning for residents with complex clinical and functional needs
• Implement workflow tools that support shared accountability across therapy, nursing, and other IDT members to improve quality outcomes and reduce avoidable re-hospitalizations

The MDS in Court – How Does Yours Standup? | Janine Lehman, RN, RAC-CT, CLNC, Proactive LTC Consulting

With the growing number of long-term care lawsuits and the increased knowledge of attorneys involved with this litigation, the MDS is receiving increased scrutiny. It is imperative for MDS nurses to understand the impact of the MDS in court, and how to explain and support it if questioned by legal counsel. The speaker will provide insights into the most common sections of the MDS that are utilized in determining whether or not the facility met the standard of care, along with tips and strategies for successfully explaining the role of the MDS in the provision of care. Following this session, you’ll be able to:

• Identify the most common MDS sections for litigation focus
• Understand the significant role the MDS now plays in long-term care litigation
• Master the MDS definitions and instructions that are key to supporting the resident care provided
• Recognize tips and strategies for explaining the MDS to attorneys and a jury

Express Pass to Precision: Tackling Tricky ICD-10-CM Scenarios in Long-Term Care | Jennifer LaBay, RN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, QCP, CRC, AAPACN

ICD-10-CM coding in long-term care can feel like waiting in a never-ending line full of twists, turns, and tricky scenarios that slow down even the most experienced clinicians and coders. This interactive session acts as an “express pass,” helping you bypass the long line of confusion and coding missteps. The speaker will guide you through the most challenging coding scenarios, including morbid obesity, traumatic versus pathological fractures, muscle weakness versus generalized weakness, and complex diagnoses such as schizophrenia, sepsis, and malnutrition. Through real-world examples and practical discussion, you will learn how precise documentation and coding guidelines directly impact MDS section I accuracy, PDPM reimbursement, and quality measures—allowing you to move through coding challenges efficiently and confidently, without waiting in the long lines of guesswork, rework, and denials. Following this session, you’ll be able to:

• Describe common ICD-10-CM challenges in long-term care
• Differentiate between key diagnostic distinctions, such as traumatic vs. pathological fractures and muscle weakness vs. generalized weakness
• Explain coding for complex conditions, including schizophrenia, sepsis, malnutrition
• Recognize the impact of accurate ICD-10-CM coding on MDS section I, PDPM, and quality measures

Behind the Managed Care ADR Denial: What Documents Make or Break Your ADR Case | Alvin Cabales, RAC-CT, RAC-MT, NewGen

Managed Care ADR (Additional Documentation Request) denials have become increasingly common and complex, especially in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). As payers tighten their review processes, many facilities are experiencing increased denial rates for skilled stays and therapy services, delays in reimbursement or total loss of payment due to missing or insufficient documentation, and a growing need for nursing and MDS staff to support documentation integrity, not just billing teams. With the rise of Medicare Advantage plans and value-based care, Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) are scrutinizing clinical records more aggressively than ever. Facilities that fail to submit the right documentation in a timely and organized manner are at high risk for financial loss and audit flags. Following this session, you’ll be able to:

• Identify the core documents typically required by Managed Care Organizations to support medical necessity and skilled level of care, including but not limited to physician orders, nursing and therapy documentation, MDS assessments, progress notes, and hospital records and pre-admission documentation
• Evaluate common documentation gaps and errors that lead to Managed Care ADR denials, including inconsistencies between clinical narratives, lack of supportive evidence for skilled need, or missing signatures and dates
• Review and analyze sample ADR denial case studies to identify what went wrong, discuss what documentation would have supported approval, and determine how similar situations can be prevented in the future
• Apply best practices for interdisciplinary documentation that strengthen ADR submissions, improve defensibility, and ensure alignment between MDS coding, therapy logs, nursing notes, and the plan of care

Reduce Readmissions with Data-Driven Post-Acute Clinical Strategies | Kathy Derleth, RN, BSN, Real Time Medical Systems, and Tina Belongia, RN, BSN, North Shore Health

Reducing rehospitalizations is a critical and timely priority as post-acute providers face increasing pressure under value-based care models. During this session, the speakers will offer actionable strategies for directors of nursing and clinical leaders to improve patient outcomes through data-driven care coordination, risk stratification, and medication management. Through a real-world example, learn how facilities can leverage live data to support regulatory compliance, enhance discharge planning, and drive Five-Star quality improvement. Come away feeling empowered to lead clinical excellence and achieve better resident outcomes. Following this session, you’ll be able to:

• Leverage technology and innovative strategies to reduce avoidable hospital readmissions
• Develop and initiate successful Discharge Management and Care Transitions from post-acute care back into the community
• Identify key interventions to manage resident quality and safety metrics that align with current CMS initiatives

Master Five-Star Updates and Strategies for Future Rating Success | Genice Hornberger, RN, RAC-CT, and Eugene Gonsiorek, PhD, NHA, both of PointClickCare

The Five-Star Quality Rating System continues to evolve, and staying ahead of these changes is essential for facility leaders. This session will highlight the latest updates, including the removal of third-cycle surveys and the revised antipsychotic measure, and their impact on facilities. The speakers will also revisit the fundamentals of Five-Star calculations and explore how the transition to PDPM, particularly the use of the nursing component in staffing calculations, may impact your facility’s rating. Following this session, you’ll be able to:

• Describe the components and calculation methodology of the Five-Star Quality Rating System 
• Analyze the impact of recent CMS updates on health inspection and quality measure ratings
• Evaluate how PDPM’s nursing component affects staffing scores and facility strategy
• Apply tools and workflows to monitor Five-Star performance and prepare for public reporting

A Nurse, PT, and OT Walk into an IDT Meeting | Liz Barlow, RN, CRRN, RAC-CT, DNS-CT, QCP, Blue & Co. AAPACN board member, Sabrena McCarley, MBA-SL, OTR/L, CLIPP, RAC-CT, QCP, FAOTA, RAC-CTA, Transitional Care Management, and Leigh Ann Frick, PT/MBA, RAC-CT, PNAP, Care Navigation Consulting, AAPACN Education Foundation board member

In this session, explore how collaboration across nursing, therapy, and nutrition services drives better outcomes in mobility, ADLs, nutrition, and wound care. Through real-world examples and evidence-based strategies, the speakers will highlight how these domains collectively impact function, safety, and quality of life. Learn to assess risk factors, implement coordinated interventions, and strengthen IDT communication to improve resident-centered care—while aligning with regulatory priorities, PDPM reimbursement requirements, and SNF Value-Based Purchasing (VBP) quality measures. Following this session, you’ll be able to:

• Explain how nutrition, mobility, ADLs, and wound care interrelate in resident outcomes—and why teamwork matters
• Assess key indicators, such as weight loss, gait speed, ADL dependency, and wound status, to inform coordinated care planning
• Implement strategies for proactive identification and intervention to reduce malnutrition, functional decline, and pressure injuries

NTA, IPA, Interrupted Stay: Code It Right and Save the Day! | Melanie Tribe-Scott, RN, BSN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, DNS-CT, QCP, Advinia Care, AAPACN Education Foundation board member

PDPM can feel like alphabet soup, but we’ll make it simple! This session will spotlight interrupted stays, Interim Payment Assessments (IPA), and Non-Therapy Ancillaries (NTA) with practical tips and clear guidance. Learn what’s required, when to act, and how to code accurately—plus strategies to keep your PDPM process on track. Walk away with confidence to handle these tricky areas and ensure compliance while protecting reimbursement. Following this session, you’ll be able to:

• Explain the regulatory requirements for an interrupted stay under PDPM
• Describe the indications and process for completing an Interim Payment Assessment (IPA)
• Define the Non-Therapy Ancillary (NTA) component and outline required ICD-10 coding practices
• Discuss additional strategies for effective management of the PDPM model

PDPM Under Pressure—Getting Paid is Easy, Keeping it Isn’t | Mary Pannell, MSN, RN, RAC-CT, and Leslie Johnson, RN, RAC-CT, both of QRM

While many providers have grown comfortable with Medicare PDPM, the shift toward PDPM-like methodologies in Medicaid programs across states is creating a new wave of uncertainty and financial risk. This session is designed to equip nursing facility teams with practical strategies to optimize reimbursement and minimize financial risk under PDPM.  will explore how to stay ahead of common pitfalls, avoid costly missteps, and confidently guide your team through securing accurate payment with the foresight to protect it. Following this session, you’ll be able to:

• Identify key documentation and IDT practices that support compliant PDPM reimbursement and reduce audit vulnerability
• Recognize risk areas and their impact on PDPM revenue retention
• Examine how state Medicaid PDPM models diverge from Medicare, and explore the unique challenges they present

From Drained to Resilient: Leadership that Restores | Kim Watson, NHA, ODPC, Certified Clifton Strengths Coach, Aspire Senior Solutions

Burnout is high and emotional fatigue is real – yet nurse leaders are expected to continuously pour into others. In this session, the speaker will provide practical strategies to prioritize your own well-being while creating a ripple effect of care across teams. This session blends leadership, stress management, and culture-building, to empower nurse leaders to model resilience, support staff retention, and sustain a compassionate workplace amidst the pressures of regulatory demands and staffing challenges. Following this session, you’ll be able to:

• Identify the signs and impact of chronic stress and compassion fatigue in post-acute care settings
• Describe five key dimensions of effective self-care for nurse leaders
• Explain how leadership behavior influences team well-being and culture
• Apply practical strategies to model well-being and foster a culture of caring within teams and develop an action plan to incorporate personal and team well-being practices into daily operations

The Ultimate Maestro: The Facility Leader’s Role in Managing Reimbursement | Robin Hillier, BSN, MS, RN, RAC-CT, IP, BSN, MS, RN, RAC-CT, IP, RLH Consulting, AAPACN board member

Administrators and directors of nursing services understand how important their average Medicare/managed care rate and facility average case-mix scores are to their financial success, but they are often uncomfortable with their role in managing the staff and the systems that generate those metrics. This session will help the facility leadership embrace their role as the “maestro” of a complex orchestra. Following this session, you’ll be able to:

• Describe interdisciplinary processes critical to reimbursement and the administrator/DNS role in those processes
• Articulate the competencies the facility leadership should look for in the nurse assessment coordinator
• Evaluate the staff development and training needs in their facility to ensure reimbursement success

Keeping Up with Managed Care: What’s Ahead for 2026 | Maureen McCarthy, RN, BS, RAC-MT, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MTA, Celtic Consulting, AAPACN board chair

As Medicare Advantage (MA) enrollment continues to rise, long-term care providers face unique challenges in balancing quality outcomes, resident access, and financial sustainability. This session explores the complex relationship between MA plans and skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), highlighting issues such as narrow networks, lower reimbursement rates, prior authorizations, reduced length of stay, and administrative burdens. Gain insight into the regulatory landscape, current trends, and practical strategies for improving collaboration with payers, advocating for fair policies, and protecting both residents and organizations. Following this session, you’ll be able to:

• Identify key challenges long-term care providers face when working with MA plans, including financial, clinical, and operational impacts
• Analyze how MA plan requirements influence resident outcomes, care transitions, and organizational performance
• Apply strategies for negotiating with MA plans, streamlining authorization and documentation processes, and advocating for resident-centered care

Successful Outcomes: Discharge Function Score | Sarah (Ragone) Wells, MSPT, RAC-CTA, Coretactics Healthcare Consulting

The Discharge Function Score is a new outcome-based metric that evaluates a resident’s functional ability at the time of discharge. It compares their status at discharge to their expected level, using data from section GG of the MDS. The score is risk-adjusted to account for factors like a resident’s age and clinical conditions, which ensures that facilities are evaluated fairly based on their patient population. A higher score indicates that a facility is effectively helping residents regain independence. This session will focus on this crucial measure and examine how it directly impacts the facility’s Five-Star Quality Rating and Value-Based Purchasing (VBP). Following this session, you’ll be able to:

• Examine the specific data collected by CMS to calculate the score
• Understand how this data is used to generate publicly reported quality metrics
• Establish a process for routinely reviewing CMS reports to monitor their facility’s performance
• Develop an interdisciplinary team approach to successfully manage and improve their facility’s scores

The 10 Most Confusing MDS coding Items for 2026 | Carol Maher, RN, GERO-BC, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, CPC, Hansen Hunter & Co.

The AAPACN Community, Master Teachers, Expert Advisory Panel, and State RAI Coordinators will be polled to determine the most confusing MDS coding issues they have encountered this year. During this session, the speaker will walk you through the steps to take to come to the correct coding response supported through the RAI User’s Manual and CMS updates. This popular annual session topic will spotlight current issues and challenges identified by the groups above. Following this session, you’ll be able to:

• Apply steps for assessment from the RAI User’s Manual to determine the correct code for complicated MDS issues
• Gain clarity of the proper coding of complex MDS item
• Recite four difficult coding issues

Risk Reviews Reimagined: Moving from Reactive Fixes to Proactive Prevention | Josanna Enriquez, LNHA, NE-BC, CENP, CIC, CNL, Plymouth Management Services

In post-acute care, risk reviews are often treated as post-incident checklists for damage control rather than prevention. In this session, the speaker will challenge this mindset, introducing a transformative, dynamic, and holistic approach to risk reviews. Learn to reframe traditional practices into proactive processes that identify issues early and strengthens organizational culture, compliance, and resident safety. Through real-world case examples and practical tools, learn how using forward-thinking strategies can shift from a reactive response to intentional prevention. Following this session, you’ll be able to:

• Identify common gaps in current risk review processes that limit their effectiveness in preventing adverse events
• Apply a proactive risk review framework that integrates root cause analysis, data trends, and interdisciplinary collaboration
• Develop actionable multi-level strategies to transform post-event reviews into tools for system-wide learning and prevention
• Strengthen organizational readiness by promoting a culture of safety, transparency, and continuous improvement

Accountable and Empowered: A Practical Playbook for Administrators to Dominate Five-Star Ratings | Steven Littlehale, RN, MS, GCNS, Zimmet Healthcare Services Group 

In today’s skilled nursing landscape, a facility’s Five-Star rating isn’t just a score, it’s a spotlight on  leadership, financial viability, and community reputation. For administrators, the CMS Five-Star system is both a tool and a weapon; it can accelerate success or trigger significant challenges if not strategically managed. This session goes beyond the manuals to equip administrators with a practical, data-driven playbook for mastering the complexities of the Five-Star program. The speaker will break down the latest CMS updates and translate technical details into real-world, actionable strategies. You will gain insights on how to leverage analytics, strengthen cross-team collaboration, and proactively shape your ratings, rather than being blindsided by them. Using creative and engaging teaching learning strategies, learn to identify hidden opportunities within your Health Inspection, Staffing, and Quality domains, while also crafting defense strategies to minimize damage from unexpected negative ratings. Whether you’re trying to maintain five stars, climb the ladder, or protect your reputation, gain the insights you need to lead with confidence. Following this session, you’ll be able to:

• Understand the latest CMS updates and uncover two key analytic insights in each domain (Health Inspection, Staffing, and Quality) to target opportunities
• Design and execute actionable plans that align clinical, operational, and leadership teams toward measurable Five-Star improvement
• Build a proactive defense strategy to anticipate, mitigate, and respond to negative ratings before they impact operations or reputation
• Position yourself not only as a steward of compliance but as a strategic driver of organizational success

Let Your Data Do the Talking | Laurie Laxton, RN, BSN, RAC-CT, CMAS, QCP, IP-BC, and Michelle Karl, MSHI, MBA-HC, BSHA-LT, LVN, both of Inovalon

Data tells a story. In this session, the speakers will explore various software and CMS reports available to drive actionable solutions with real-life examples, audience participation, and extensive handouts. They will examine numerous types of quality measures, infection outbreaks, safety incidents, and how to analyze various types of data to help drive QAPI initiatives and improve overall resident outcomes. Following this session, you’ll be able to:

• Identify one CMS report that can be used to drive improvement in multiple quality measures
• Recognize at least one way software can be used to drive improvement in various types of quality measures
• Understand at least one way software can be used to identify root causes of infection outbreaks
• Utilize software to identify root causes of safety incidents

The Magic of Skilled Care: Documenting Like a Pro | Karen Welsch, SLP, RAC-CT, CONNECT by Zimmet Healthcare

In Orlando, the home of world-famous theme parks, every detail matters to create an unforgettable experience—and the same is true for skilled nursing documentation. As CMS increases its audits, facilities must be prepared to let their documentation shine. In this session, the speaker will take you on a guided “park tour” through the must-see attractions of compliant, individualized, and audit-ready documentation. From avoiding “haunted house” pitfalls to building a “magic kingdom” of resident-centered notes, you will learn how to make their documentation as spectacular as a Florida fireworks finale. Following this session, you’ll be able to:

• Identify the CMS “park rules” for skilled care documentation and navigate how they guide SNF practice
• Recognize documentation “rollercoasters” that lead to denials or survey citations and learn strategies to stay on track
• Apply best practices to write individualized, resident-focused notes that showcase skilled care
• Implement practical tools and workflows that highlight quality care, ensure compliance, and leave a lasting “grand finale” impression

From Sand to Solid Ground: Strengthening Your Understanding of Falls and Major Injury | Jessie McGill, RN, BSN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, AAPACN

Grab your sunglasses and step into the sunshine as we dive into the updated RAI User’s Manual version 1.20.1 and the new definitions for falls and major injury. These changes may make you a little uncomfortable—like sand between your toes—but understanding them is essential to building a solid foundation for MDS coding and quality measures. In this session, the speaker will clarify what’s new, highlight best practices for documenting falls and related injuries, and share practical strategies to keep your quality measures standing strong. Following this session, you’ll be able to:

• Recognize the changes in the definitions of falls and major injury as outlined in the RAI User’s Manual v1.20.1
• Analyze how these updated definitions may influence quality measures for falls and falls with major injury
• Identify strategies to ensure accurate coding, documentation, and fall prevention practices are in alignment with the new standards

Managing Behaviors: It’s More than Psychotropic Medication | Michelle Stuercke, RN, ND, MSN, MPA, BSN, LNHA, QCP, Transitional Care Consulting and Management

Long-term care is no longer synonymous with “elder care.” In the past 20 years, adults aged 31 – 64 years have become the fastest growing population in long-term care facilities. According to the CDC, nearly 8% of long-term care residents are aged less than 65 years old and this population is continuing to grow. In this session, the speaker will explain how residents with diagnosis such as schizophrenia, Bipolar Disease, Huntington’s disease, and ALS which combined with their medical comorbidities, can make this population difficult to manage. The speaker will also examine the increased focus CMS has placed on behavioral health care through F-tags F740 and F743; as well as the increased focus on psychotropic medications with the April 2025 changes. Following this session, you’ll be able to:

• Understand the relationship between pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions in the management of behaviors
• Describe the role of the interdisciplinary team in performing a behavior root cause analysis
• List three ways the team can manage especially challenging behaviors such as elopement and physical aggression

How’s it Made. Your VBP Score and Incentive Multiplier. | Joel VanEaton, BSN, RN, RAC-CTA, MT, Broad River Rehab, AAPACN Education Foundation board president

With the Value-Based Purchasing (VBP) measure expansion, the new scoring reports can be challenging to understand. In this session, the speaker will help participants understand their scoring reports, teach them how to calculate their VBP measure scores, and how their scores affect the incentive multiplier. Following this session, you’ll be able to:

• Identify the measures that contribute to the score
• Recognize the baseline and performance timeline and standards
• Understand the scoring calculation including normalization
• Describe how the VBP final measure score determines the incentive multiplier

Allegations of Fraud and Abuse in Nursing Homes: Anatomy of an Acquittal | Beth Moskow-Schnoll, JD, Ballard Spahr, and Michelle Romeo, MRomeo Consulting

The federal government’s crackdown on healthcare fraud is hitting the nursing home industry hard—and sometimes the wrong people get caught in the crosshairs. In this session, the speaker will share the real-life story of a regional MDS nurse overseeing 16 facilities, indicted on criminal healthcare fraud and conspiracy charges—and fully acquitted after trial. Learn from both the defense attorney and the nurse herself about prosecution missteps, compliance gaps, and practical steps to protect yourself, your staff, and your organization from becoming the next target. Following this session, you’ll be able to:

• Discuss and analyze United States v. Gilbert with insight from both a defense attorney and the defendant—a regional MDS nurse—directly involved in the case
• Examine the government’s errors in prosecution, including a failure to understand CMS’ RAI Manual and related regulations
• Apply key lessons learned to develop strategies that protect themselves and their organizations from being targeted by the government

Winning with Claims | Lisa Chubb, MSN, RN, Brickyard Healthcare, AAPACN board member

As CMS places greater emphasis on claims-based quality measures, providers must adopt transformational care models to remain competitive and improve resident outcomes. During this session, the speaker will highlight actionable strategies led by nurse leaders to reduce rehospitalizations, improve care transitions, and strengthen Five-Star ratings. Gain insights into aligning clinical operations with data-driven goals to drive sustainable performance and elevate their role in today’s outcome-focused post-acute landscape. Following this session, you’ll be able to:

• Identify key components of a transformational care model that improve CMS claims-based measures and support sustained Five-Star performance
• Explain how nurse leaders can influence care transitions and reduce rehospitalizations through data-driven, interdisciplinary strategies
• Demonstrate how to align clinical workflows with quality metrics to proactively manage outcomes and elevate organizational performance

SNF QRP and VBP. So, What’s the Difference? | Joel VanEaton, BSN, RN, RAC-CTA, MT, Broad River Rehab, AAPACN Education Foundation board chair, and Scott Heichel, RN, RAC-MT, RAC-CTA, DNS-CT, QCP, ICC, IPCO, Pathway Health, AAPACN board member

Beyond the Five-Star rating system, there are two value-based programs skilled nursing facility (SNF) teams need to manage – the SNF Quality Reporting and the SNF Value-Based Purchasing. Both programs are comprehensive in their scope of quality measurements, and both carry financial Implications. In this session, the speakers will break down the program specifics and detail practical implications for facility monitoring and management of these programs. Following this session, you’ll be able to:

• Describe the SNF QRP and SNF VBP and recognize the SNF QRP and VBP measures
• Identify the SNF QRP and VBP reporting and validation requirements
• State best practices for monitoring SNF Quality Reporting Program compliance
• Recognize the compliance thresholds of the SNF Quality Reporting Program

The HIGH-Lights of CBD and Cannabis Use in Senior Living | Rob Leffler, R.Ph., Synchrony Health Services

With CBD and cannabis use rapidly expanding, senior living leaders face growing challenges in balancing resident choice, safety, and compliance. During this session, the speaker will clarify the history, science, and legal landscape of CBD and marijuana related products, review approved medical uses, and explore marketing versus evidence. You will gain strategies to address resident use, reduce risk, and guide staff in navigating this evolving and often confusing area of care. Following this session, you’ll be able to:

• Review the history and science of CBD, hemp, and cannabis-based medications
• Discuss the legal and regulatory status of CBD and medical marijuana in the U.S
• Evaluate marketing claims versus evidence on efficacy and safety
• Identify strategies for senior living providers to address resident use and reduce risk

Facility Assessment – Changes, Impact on Long-Term Care Today and Beyond! | Colleen Toebe, MSN, CWCN, RAC-MTA, RAC-MT, DNS MT, Pathway Health

The Facility Assessment in a Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF), as outlined in CMS Appendix PP (F838), isn’t just a regulatory requirement—it’s a strategic tool to improve quality, safety, and operational performance when used effectively. When you treat the Facility Assessment as a strategic roadmap, not just a compliance checkbox, it becomes a powerful driver for better care quality, safer operations, and improved survey outcomes. Join this informational session on the impact of the changes related to the Facility Assessment. The speaker will discuss answers to common questions, operational impact, and how to utilize the Facility Assessment for operational and clinical decision-making. Following this session, you’ll be able to:

• Verbalize the key changes to the Facility Assessment and provider’s expectations    
• Describe the importance of an interdisciplinary approach with all aspects of the Facility Assessment
• Discuss strategies to utilize the Facility Assessment for decision-making

The Evolution of Artificial Intelligence Tools and the Healthcare Team | Allison Rainey, APRN, FNP-BC, MatrixCare

AI is rapidly transforming skilled nursing, making it crucial for leaders to understand what’s working now. In this session, the speaker will deliver practical, real-world examples of AI improving care quality, staffing, and revenue cycle — directly addressing the operational and clinical challenges many facilities face. Gain actionable insights to evaluate, implement, and lead successful AI initiatives in your organization, ensuring you stay ahead in a fast-evolving healthcare landscape. Following this session, you’ll be able to:

• Identify current, practical AI applications in skilled nursing settings
• Analyze real-world outcomes from AI implementations in care, staffing, and revenue cycle
• Distinguish between hype and proven results in AI adoption for skilled nursing
• Formulate strategies for successful AI integration in your organization