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Tips from AAPACN

Stay up-to-date and informed by reviewing the latest tips from AAPACN. Our experts will keep you updated with the latest news from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and other news sources. Want access to all the tips from AAPACN? Learn more about AAPACN and AAPACN membership.

  • TIP: Final Influenza Vaccination Reporting Deadline Approaching
    The deadline to submit healthcare personnel (HCP) influenza vaccination data in the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention’s (CDC) National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) system is May 18, 2026. This reporting is required for the …
  • TIP: Final Influenza Vaccination Reporting Deadline Approaching
    The deadline to submit healthcare personnel (HCP) influenza vaccination data in the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention’s (CDC) National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) system is May 18, 2026. This reporting is required for the …
  • TIP: CMS Proposed Major Changes to SNF QRP Program
    The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released the fiscal year (FY) 2027 SNF PPS Proposed Rule. Stakeholders have until June 1, 2026, to submit comments on the proposals. The following is a …
  • TIP: QIO Provides Weather Preparedness Guide for Severe Weather
    The Quality Improvement Organizations (QIO) has developed a Severe Weather Preparedness Guide to help healthcare facilities prepare for and respond to severe weather events, including tornadoes, flooding, severe thunderstorms, hail, and late-season winter storms. This …
  • TIP: Antipsychotic Measure Update and Upcoming Five-Star Refresh
    The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released an errata document for the MDS 3.0 QM User’s Manual, changing guidance regarding public reporting of the new long stay (LS) antipsychotic measure. CMS removed the …
  • TIP: Updated ABN (CMS-R-131) Now Available
    The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released the updated Advance Beneficiary Notice of Noncoverage (ABN), Form CMS-R-131. The notice had expired in January 2026, but CMS instructed facilities to continue issuing the …
  • TIP: CDC Releases New Sepsis Prevention Tool
    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 …
  • TIP: AAPACN Conference: Save a Seat
    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 …
  • TIP: CMS Clarifies Data Used in the Delayed January Refresh
    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 …
  • TIP: New Definition for COVID-19 Vaccination “Up to Date”
    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 …
  • TIP: January Five-Star Provider Reports Updated and Reposted
    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 …
  • TIP: CMS Adds Falls to Special Focus Facility Selection Criteria
    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: …
  • TIP: ABN Form Expires Jan. 31, 2026
    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 …
  • TIP: SNF QRP Validation Audits and Resources
    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 …
  • TIP: CMS Has New Resource Available on Data Validation Process for the SNF Assessment-Based Measures
    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 …
  • TIP: Consolidated Billing Updates for 2026
    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 …
  • TIP: CMS Released Updated MDS 3.0 Quality Measures User’s Manual v18.0
    The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released the Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 Quality Measures (QM) User’s Manual, version (V)18.0, which will go into effect Jan. 1, 2026. This update contains the re-specification of …
  • TIP: CMS Releases New Technical Specification Report for Falls with Major Injury Measure
    The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released the official Long-Stay Nursing Home – Falls with Major Injury Respecification: Technical Specification Report for the Falls with Major Injury (FMI) measure. This report incorporates …
  • TIP: Overview of Changes with November Care Compare Refresh
    The expected October Care Compare refresh was delayed during the government shutdown, but it was finally refreshed on Nov. 30, 2025. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) outlined key updates also included with …
  • TIP: CMS Audits and Surveys Expected to Ramp Up
    With the federal government now reopened after the 43-day shutdown, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is expected to move quickly from the contingency plans outlined in the QSO-26-01-ALL REVISED memo and back …
  • TIP: AHRQ Launches New MDRO Toolkit
    The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) released a new Toolkit for Improving Skin Care and MDRO Prevention in Long-Term Care, which outlines four evidence-based strategies to reduce infection risks and maintain skin integrity among long-term care …
  • TIP: Updated QSO Memo on the Government Shutdown
    The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released an updated memo regarding “Contingency Plans – State Survey & Certification Activities in the Event of Federal Government Shutdown,” QSO-26-01-ALL Revised, on Oct. 31, 2025. CMS …
  • TIP: COVID-19 Recommendations Updated
    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently updated guidance for the COVID-19 vaccine administration and the adult immunization schedule. The CDC’s Adult Immunization Schedule webpage was updated Oct. 7, 2025, which changed the …
  • TIP: Updated MDS 3.0 RAI User’s Manual Changes – New Definitions for Fall, Injury, and Major Injury
    The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the final version of the RAI User’s Manual, version 1.20.1, which went into effect Oct. 1, 2025. CMS made several changes, including a new definition for …
  • TIP: CMS Released Additional Updates to RAI User’s Manual v1.20.1
    On Sept. 24, 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released an updated RAI User’s Manual version 1.20.1 and updated MDS item sets v1.20.1v4. The last-minute updates aligned the MDS item sets with …
  • 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 …
  • TIP: CMS Released Final RAI User’s Manual for Oct. 1, 2025
    The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released the final version of the RAI User’s Manual, version 1.20.1, which goes into effect Oct. 1, 2025. While the draft version has been available for …
  • TIP: SNF VBP Performance Score Reports Available
    The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced the August 2025 Performance Score Reports for the fiscal year (FY) 2026 Skilled Nursing Facility Value-Based Purchasing (SNF VBP) Program are available for download via …
  • TIP: CMS Expires or Revises Multiple COVID-19 Waivers
    The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has recently expired or revised multiple waivers and QSO memos related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The following are included: This AAPACN resource is copyright protected. AAPACN individual …
  • TIP: CMS Finalizes Removal of Section R
    The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) noted in the FY 2026 SNF PPS Final Rule, “After consideration of the public comments, we are finalizing our proposal to remove four standardized patient assessment data …
  • TIP: Updated Five-Star Manual Available
    Effective with the July 2025 refresh, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is implementing a change to the methodology for calculating the Health Inspection domain, shifting from using the three most recent standard …
  • TIP: CDC Releases LTCF COVID-19 Module Facility Dashboard
    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) recently released the NHSN COVID-19 Dashboard for long-term care facilities. This user-friendly tool offers customizable, interactive charts and a clear summary of …
  • TIP: New Non-Pressure Chronic Ulcer Codes Effective Oct. 1, 2025
    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released the updated codes for fiscal year (FY) 2026. These updates include the addition of the following locations to the category L98.4, non-pressure chronic ulcer of …
  • TIP: CMS Released QSO Memo Impacting Five-Star
    The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a memo that will have a significant impact on the health inspection star rating and how the long-star antipsychotic measure is calculated, among other changes:  Health …
  • TIP: CDC Changes Up to Date Definition for COVID-19 Vaccinations
    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has changed the National Healthcare Safety Network’s (NHSN) reporting definition of Up to Date. Individuals aged 65 years and older are Up to Date when they have: …
  • TIP: CMS Released Updated Draft MDS Item Sets for Oct. 2025
    The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released the updated draft Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 Item Sets version (v)1.20.1v3-Section and updated Matrix. The newly added section R has been removed with this …
  • TIP: SNF Value-Based Purchasing Fact Sheets Released
    The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released the FY 2026 Skilled Nursing Facility Value-Based Purchasing (VBP) fact sheet. This fact sheet details the program, measures used, case-minimums, the process for making correction, …
  • TIP: New CMS Survey Resource
    As part of their ongoing commitment to ensuring quality care and compliance with federal health and safety regulations, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) developed an informational provider resource about the survey process. …
  • TIP: CMS Will Begin Posting Staffing Data on the Care Compare Website
    Weekend Staffing: The level of total nurse and registered nurse (RN) staffing on weekends provided by each nursing home over a quarter. Staff Turnover: The percent of nursing staff and number of administrators that stopped …
  • TIP: New Resource to Improve Healthcare Safety
    Lucian Leap just released a new book called Making Healthcare Safe. This free, downloadable book discusses ways a skilled nursing facility can implement a culture of safety by changing processes, working conditions, and communication in …
  • TIP: CMS Scheduled Care Compare Refresh with Revised Discharge to Community Measure Data
    The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) discovered an error in the calculations for the Discharge to Community measure and will be updating the Care Compare website with the corrected data on Sept. 29, …