News for MDS Experts
Check out our insightful articles and current social feed of news that’s important to MDS Coordinators.
Our Latest Articles
What Really Counts: How Quality Measures Shape Compliance, Reporting, and Performance
If your Facility-level and Resident-level MDS 3.0 Quality Measures (MDS 3.0 QM), the Skilled Nursing Facility MDS 3.0 Quality Reporting Program Quality Measures (MDS 3.0 SNF QRP QM), or Five Star QM...
Beyond the Scorecard: Turning Quality Measure Data into Action
Data coded on the Minimum Data Set (MDS) is collected during structured and defined time periods; what happens with the resident outside of those time periods cannot be captured on the MDS and will...
Care Planning to Reduce the Risk for Chemical Restraint
How can we turn care plans from an exercise in paper compliance that few staff understand, let alone review or utilize, to a workable document that helps us manage resident needs? When thinking...
MDS Tuesday Tip: Quality Measures are more than numbers on a report.
MDS-driven data can impact Care Compare, Five-Star Ratings, SNF QRP, VBP, care planning, survey readiness, reimbursement, and compliance.
Join MDS Experts on June 23 for Quality Measures and SNF QRP: What Counts and Why It Matters, Part 3 of our Quality Measures Series.
Don’t see the Register button? Join MDS Experts to access this webinar and all upcoming education.
👉https://www.mdsexpert.com/webinars-training/
#MDSExperts #MDSConsultants #MDSTuesdayTip #QualityMeasures #SNFQRP #MDS #LongTermCare #SkilledNursing #CarePlanning #SurveyReadiness #HealthcareEducation ... See MoreSee Less
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The Five-Star rating preview reports for nursing homes will be available in iQIES on June 17, 2026. Nursing Home Care Compare will update with the June Five-Star data on or around June 24, 2026.
Important Note: The Five-Star Helpline (800-839-9290) will be available June 22-26, 2026. For assistance logging into iQIES, please contact the iQIES Service Center via email (iQIES@cms.hhs.gov) or by phone (800-339-9313).
qtso.cms.gov/news-and-updates/notice-five-star-rating-preview-reports-june-2026 ... See MoreSee Less
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Quality Measures matter — and knowing what counts matters even more.
Join MDS Experts on June 23 for Quality Measures and SNF QRP: What Counts and Why It Matters, Part 3 of our Quality Measures Series.
This session will cover SNF QRP quality measures, iQIES reports, and strategies to help facilities monitor and prepare for changes that impact quality, compliance, reimbursement, and survey readiness.
Join MDS Experts to access this webinar and all upcoming education.
👉 cstu.io/ed90c8
#mdsexperts #MDSCONSULTANTS #QualityMeasures #snfqrp #longtermcare #skillednursing #MDS #nursinghomeeducation #SNF #HealthcareCompliance ... See MoreSee Less
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iQIES Survey & Certification Job Aid Informal Dispute Resolution (IDR) and Independent Informal Dispute Resolution (IIDR) has been updated effective 6/2/2026 and posted 6/8/2026.
An Informal Dispute Resolution (IDR) provides an opportunity for providers to dispute cited deficiencies after receiving CMS-2567. An Independent Informal Dispute Resolution (IIDR) provides an external review when a Civil Money Penalty (CMP) is imposed. The job aid includes instruction how to create an IDR or IIDR, submitting the request, update and records results, and update citations based on IDR or IIDR results.
qtso.cms.gov/software/iqies/reference-manuals
qtso.cms.gov/system/files/qtso/iQIES%20IDR-IIDR%20Job%20Aid%20v2.0%20FINAL%2006.02.26_508.pdf ... See MoreSee Less
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The iQIES Onboarding Process Job Aid: Provider User Roles has been updated effective 6/8/2026. This onboarding job aid explains how providers access iQIES and requests a provider user role.
The following roles are available for providers: • 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 • 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗩𝗶𝗲𝘄𝗲𝗿 • 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗔𝗱𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿 • 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿 • 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗲𝗣𝗢𝗖 𝗔𝗱𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿 • 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 • 𝗣𝗕𝗝 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 • 𝗣𝗕𝗝 𝗩𝗶𝗲𝘄𝗲𝗿
qtso.cms.gov/software/iqies/reference-manuals/?utm_source=contentstudio.io&utm_medium=referral
qtso.cms.gov/system/files/qtso/iQIES%20Onboarding%20Process%20-%20Provider%20User%20Roles%20v1.0.... ... See MoreSee Less
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CDC announces new ICD-10-CM codes effective October 1, 2026. Use these files for discharges occurring from October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027, and for patient encounters occurring from October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027.
cstu.io/4196f7 ... See MoreSee Less
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The May update of Appendix B to the MDS 3.0 RAI User’s Manual contains changes to the list of State RAI Coordinators, MDS Automation Coordinators, and CMS locations and contacts.
cstu.io/58f4c2
cstu.io/225cf4
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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is offering a one-page resource that clarifies when an OBRA Discharge assessment is required under the MDS 3.0 RAI User’s Manual (Chapter 2). This resource outlines the primary discharge criteria, including hospital admissions, observation stays greater than 24 hours, and discharges to other care settings or private residences.
cstu.io/7068b3
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𝗠𝗗𝗦 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗖𝗖𝗜 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗴𝗻, 𝗜𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗼𝗶𝘀!
We are proud to have Jessica Stucin and Kristine Martinez presenting two education sessions focused on practical MDS, QAPI, care planning, accuracy, evidence, and compliance.
𝗦𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗗𝗦 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀:
- MDS and QAPI: Accuracy, Evidence, and Compliance That Holds Up
Presented by Jessica Stucin and Kristine Martinez
-Care Planning That Works — Turning Assessment Into Action
Presented by Jessica Stucin and Kristine Martinez
These topics are a strong fit for today’s skilled nursing teams as facilities continue working to connect MDS accuracy, documentation, compliance, quality improvement, and resident-centered care.
📍 The I Hotel & Illinois Conference Center
📅 June 16–18, 2026
Champaign, Illinois
We look forward to connecting with long-term care professionals at HCCI!
#HCCI2026 #LongTermCare #SkilledNursing #MDS #QAPI #CarePlanning #Compliance #QualityImprovement #MDSConsultants ... See MoreSee Less
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