News for MDS Experts

The RBS (Risk Based) survey will be implemented nationwide beginning September 8, 2026. CMS is providing SAs and CMS Locations information related to training and implementation to prepare for the RBS launch in August and September 2026. High Performing Facility Icon: 🏆 CMS will place an icon on Nursing Home Care Compare website identifying facilities that qualify for the RBS which indicates a higher level of performance. The icon will remain on the nursing home’s profile page until the facility is no longer eligible for the RBS.
Ref: QSO-26-14-NH cstu.io/19e18d
Appendix A - RBS Facility Qualifying Criteria
Appendix B - RBS Training Schedule
Appendix C - RBS Facility Disqualifying Criteria
Appendix D - Qualified Facilities and Exclusions Counts and Percents by State
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💡 A physician's order is just the beginning.

A medication order tells us what was prescribed.

The care plan should tell us why, what we're monitoring, what interventions are in place, and how we'll know if the plan is working.

When documentation, care planning, and interdisciplinary communication all tell the same story, the entire team is better equipped to support the resident.
Sometimes the best survey preparation isn't adding more documentation, it's making sure the documentation you already have connects.

What processes has your team found most helpful for keeping everyone on the same page?

#LongTermCare #SkilledNursing #MDS #CarePlanning #QualityMeasures #SurveyReadiness #InterdisciplinaryTeam ... See MoreSee Less

PBJ Employee Linking -Reminders released on Jul 23, 2026.
•Add new employee IDs to the system before linking.
•Link employees as soon as you know about changes.
•It’s okay to link employees before assigning hours.
•Links are active when your file is accepted with no errors.
•Check the employee report to make sure you linked the right people.
•System Employee IDs in QIES will move to iQIES during the transition.
•QIES linking - use the current Federal Fiscal Quarter (Quarter 3) for PBJ link file submissions through August 14, 2026.
•iQIES linking - Quarter 4 submissions start after August 17, 2026. PBJ link file submissions will be accepted in iQIES on August 17, 2026.
•Templates and more information on linking can be found in the downloads section here: cstu.io/c3b596
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The Five-Star rating preview reports for nursing homes will be available in iQIES on July 22, 2026. Nursing Home Care Compare will update with the July Five-Star data on or around July 29, 2026.

Important Note: The Five-Star Helpline (800-839-9290) will be available July 27-31, 2026. For assistance logging into iQIES, please contact the iQIES Service Center via email (iQIES@cms.https://cstu.io/a1ca94) or by phone (800-339-9313).
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👀 Are you seeing the full picture?

Quality Measures are only one piece of the story.

Understanding how iQIES data, Quality Measures, and facility performance work together can help your team identify opportunities before they become survey concerns.

Join us for the final session in our Quality Measures Series as we connect the dots between data, resident outcomes, and performance improvement.

𝗦𝗲𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗣𝗶𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲: 𝗶𝗤𝗜𝗘𝗦, 𝗤𝗠𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗡𝗙 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲

📅 August 4, 2026

Register today at: www.mdsexpert.com/webinars-training/?utm_source=contentstudio.io&utm_medium=referral/

#LongTermCare #SkilledNursing #MDS #QualityMeasures #iQIES #SurveyReadiness #QAPI ... See MoreSee Less

🎬 Lights. Camera. FHCA!

The spotlight is almost on, and we can't wait to see everyone at the FHCA Annual Conference!

Stop by Booth #119 and step into the Spotlight on Excellence with the MDS Consultants team.

While you're there, pick up your complimentary QAPI & Regulatory Implementation Log—a practical tool designed to help organize regulatory activities, track QAPI initiatives, and support survey readiness. It's something you can take back to your facility and start using Monday morning.

Whether you want to talk MDS, Quality Measures, compliance, education, or just say hello, we'd love the opportunity to connect.

🎥 The credits don't have to roll when the conference ends! Stay connected with us through MDS Experts for webinars, educational resources, and practical tools to support your team all year long.

cstu.io/de6734

🎬 See you Sunday at Booth #119!

#FHCA #FHCA2026 #LongTermCare #SkilledNursing #MDS #QAPI #SurveyReadiness #MDSExperts ... See MoreSee Less

We love having the opportunity to share education with the long-term care community. ❤️

Congratulations to Jessica Stucin and Kristine Martinez on their latest article in the AAPACN NAC Newsletter: 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗢𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝗔𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝘀𝘆𝗰𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗰 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀.

As an AAPACN Business Partner, we're grateful for the opportunity to contribute educational content that supports long-term care professionals and encourages best practices across the industry.

The full article is available in the AAPACN NAC Newsletter for AAPACN members: cstu.io/ba7ddb

#AAPACN #LongTermCare #SkilledNursing #MDS #ResidentCare #LongTermCareEducation #ClinicalEducation #QualityImprovement ... See MoreSee Less

The QSO-26-12-NH released on 7/14/2026 announced that the payroll-Based Journal (PBJ) system will transition into the Internet Quality Improvement & Evaluation System (iQIES) on August 17, 2026, and providers and vendors must act now to ensure access to iQIES before the transition date. The QSO has steps for providers and vendors listed -𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗡𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗗𝗼 𝗕𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗟𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝗤𝗜𝗘𝗦. Also included is a list of reports that will be available in iQIES, including the names of the CASPER and iQIES reports for comparison, as well as any differences to which users should be aware.
www.cms.gov/medicare/health-safety-standards/quality-safety-oversight-general-information/policy-... ... See MoreSee Less

The OIG (Office of Inspector General) announced this new work plan on 7/15/2026 and this review will determine Medicare payments for routine home care provided to hospice beneficiaries in nursing homes, estimate potential cost savings from reducing the payment to address the inefficiency in the payment structure, and examine practices of hospices with a high percentage of their beneficiaries in nursing homes.
oig.hhs.gov/reports/work-plan/browse-work-plan-projects/the-fixed-daily-rates-that-medicare-pays-... ... See MoreSee Less