News for MDS Experts

🚨𝗥𝗘𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗥: The SNF Provider Preview Reports have been updated and are now available. These reports contain provider performance scores for quality measures, which will be published on the compare tool on cstu.io/a59faf and the Provider Data Catalog (PDC) during the April 2026 refresh.
Providers have until February 14, 2026, to review their performance data. Only updates/corrections to the underlying assessment data before the final data submission deadline will be reflected in the publicly reported data on https://cstu.io/98d400 and PDC. If a provider updates assessment data after the final data submission deadline, the updated data will only be reflected in the Facility-Level Quality Measure (QM) report and Patient-Level QM report. Updates submitted after the final data submission deadline will not be reflected in the Provider Preview Reports or on https://cstu.io/98d400. However, providers can request a CMS review of their data during the preview period if they believe the displayed quality measure scores within their Provider Preview Reports are inaccurate.
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𝗙𝗲𝗯 𝟭𝟬 | 𝗥𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲: 𝗠𝗗𝗦 𝟭𝟬/𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 – 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗴𝗴𝗹𝗲𝘀?

October 1, 2025, brought significant changes to the RAI Manual and MDS item sets — and many facilities are still feeling the impact.

𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗙𝟲𝟰𝟭 – 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝘄𝗲’𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴:
- More MDS accuracy citations
- Increased validation audit risk
- Confusion around documentation responsibilities across the IDT

This roundtable-style webinar will focus on the real struggles facilities are experiencing since the 10/1/2025 changes — and practical paths forward.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗲’𝗹𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿:
✔ MDS sections driving increased accuracy errors
✔ Common F641 deficiency trends
✔ Impact of MDS revisions on validation audits and quality measures
✔ Best practices to strengthen MDS accuracy

𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱:
Administrators, DNS, MDS Coordinators, Nurse Assessment Coordinators, Clinical Nurse Managers, and IDT members

👉 Registration required to receive your personal login link: cstu.io/7c2a67
👉 Don’t see the Register button? Membership upgrade may be required.

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🚨CMS is revising the focus area for selection to emphasize the prevalence of falls among the resident population when considering facilities for SFF selection. In addition to health inspection scores, State Agencies may consider facility falls staffing data when selecting new SFFs. This action is being taken following the Office of Inspector General’s Report, which highlighted the seriousness of nursing home resident falls and the importance of improving fall safety.
cstu.io/a6c229
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𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗢𝗨𝗥𝗖𝗘𝗦 𝗔𝗩𝗔𝗜𝗟𝗔𝗕𝗟𝗘: Impact of Combined Assessments on SNF APU: How Medicare 5-Day and PPS Discharge Combined Assessments Affect Your Facility’s APU Calculation
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released a one-page resource for SNF providers that illustrates how Medicare 5-Day and PPS Discharge combined assessments can impact the APU calculation. Providers should anticipate more in-depth training focused on the criteria for success for the SNF QRP APU in the near future.
cstu.io/dcdf6e
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The Five-Star rating preview reports for nursing homes were available in iQIES on January 21, 2026. Nursing Home Care Compare will update with the January Five-Star data on or around January 28, 2026.
Important Note: The Five-Star Helpline (800-839-9290) will be available January 26-30, 2026. For assistance logging into iQIES, please contact the iQIES Service Center via email (iQIES@cms.hhs.gov) or by phone (800-339-9313).
cstu.io/33ac9c
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🎉 We’re kicking off our 2026 Education Year with AAPACN!

MDS Consultants is proud to begin our 2026 education year as an AAPACN Training Partner, starting with the QAPI Certified Professional (QCP®) Workshop in April 2026.

This nationally recognized workshop is designed to help facilities move beyond compliance and strengthen meaningful QAPI programs that truly impact resident care.
📅 QCP® | April 14–17, 2026
🖥️ Virtual | Eastern Time
🎓 15 Continuing Education Credits

🔗 Register at cstu.io/5568d2

Follow us for additional AAPACN certification opportunities throughout 2026.

#AAPACN #AAPACNTrainingPartner #QCP #QAPI #MDSConsultants #SNFEducation #LongTermCare #NurseLeadership #Compliance #QualityImprovement ... See MoreSee Less

𝗝𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟮𝟳 | 𝗥𝗔𝗜 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝗘𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘀: 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗥𝗼𝗮𝗱𝗺𝗮𝗽 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝗡𝗙 𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 & 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲

Post-acute care facilities face increasing regulatory pressure, higher resident acuity, and evolving quality expectations. Understanding how the RAI system connects to quality and compliance is essential to mitigating risk and supporting resident outcomes.

𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝘄𝗲𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿 𝘁𝗼:
✔️Review quality and compliance requirements within a SNF
✔️ Identify quality and compliance risk areas in nursing facilities
✔️ Discuss ways to link the RAI system processes with quality and compliance

👥 Who should attend:
Administrators, Directors of Nursing Services, Nurse Assessment Coordinators, MDS Coordinators, Clinical Nurse Managers, and IDT members.

🎓 Trainers:
Jessica Stucin and Linda Winston
🔗 Registration required to receive a personal login link.

👉https://www.mdsexpert.com/webinars-training/
Register today and strengthen your SNF’s quality and compliance foundation.

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Every year, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS or the Department), Office of Inspector General (OIG) fulfills its statutory obligation to produce the Top Management and Performance Challenges Facing HHS. While the Department has made efforts to address the challenges that we identify in this document, considerable opportunities exist for further progress. This document helps the Department fulfill its mission to enhance the health and well-being of all Americans by directing the Department’s focus on the top management and performance challenges identified by OIG. For skilled nursing facilities focus on preventing, reducing, and recovering improper payments. Attached is OIG's full report.
cstu.io/5b4960
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Happy Friday!

It’s National Handwriting Day — a good reminder that whether documentation is handwritten or electronic, clarity, accuracy, and consistency always matter.

Wishing everyone a smooth end to the week and a strong start to the next. ☀️

👉 Follow MDS Consultants for practical insights on MDS, compliance, and audit readiness.

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