News for MDS Experts

It’s time to recognize the people behind the MDS. 🧩

Behind every accurate assessment, successful survey and strong interdisciplinary team are professionals helping to keep the pieces together.

MDS Consultants is excited to launch The Faces of MDS Leadership 2027, recognizing MDS professionals and nursing leaders across the country who bring knowledge, leadership and commitment to their teams every day.

𝗪𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘆𝗼𝘂!

Share your experience and leadership insight for an opportunity to become part of The Faces of MDS Leadership 2027.

Four participants will also be selected for a special quarterly feature in our 2027 MDS Leadership Recognition Calendar, with additional opportunities to share their voices and insights throughout the year.

📅 Submissions are open through November 30, 2026.

👉 cstu.io/df25da/

#FacesOfMDSLeadership #MDSLeadership #MDSCoordinator #MDS #LongTermCare #SkilledNursing #NursingLeadership #MDSConsultants ... See MoreSee Less

📢𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗡𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 (𝗦𝗡𝗙) 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲-𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 (𝗛𝗔𝗜) 𝗥𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗛𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲.
The report presents the technical specifications for the refined SNF HAI measure, including 𝙪𝙥𝙙𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙤𝙧𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙈𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝘼𝙙𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙜𝙚 (𝙈𝘼) 𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙨 𝙖𝙨 𝙖 𝙙𝙖𝙩𝙖 𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙘𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙖𝙙𝙙𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙈𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙁𝙚𝙚-𝙛𝙤𝙧-𝙎𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙘𝙚 (𝙁𝙁𝙎) 𝙘𝙡𝙖𝙞𝙢𝙨.
The report describes the measure overview and rationale, data sources, SNF stay construction and inclusion and exclusion criteria, denominator and numerator specifications, risk adjustment methodology, measure calculation algorithm, measure results, and measure testing findings. Additional updates related to the public reporting timeline for the refined measure will be provided at a future date.
cstu.io/a563f0 ... See MoreSee Less

Strong MDS knowledge supports more than accurate coding. It also supports care planning, reimbursement, compliance, quality outcomes, and better resident care.

The virtual AAPACN RAC-CT® Certification Workshop covers the key areas MDS professionals need to understand, including:
• MDS coding for OBRA and PPS
• OBRA timing and scheduling
• Care Area Assessments
• Care planning
• Medicare Part A
• ICD-10-CM coding
• Five-Star and Quality Measures
• Managing PDPM in the SNF

Join us November 10–13, 2026, and take the next step toward earning your RAC-CT credential.
Register here: cstu.io/f3f2aa/

#RACT #MDSEducation #MDSCoordinator #ResidentAssessment #PDPM #LongTermCare #MDSConsultants

Cancellation Policy: The Parties are not responsible for any fees incurred due to cancellations or postponements. Participant cancellations must be submitted in writing via email to workshops@AAPACN.org. Participants who are unable to attend may send a substitute in their place. Cancellations received more than thirty (30) business days prior to the start date of the workshop will receive a full refund. Cancellations received fourteen to thirty (14–30) business days prior to the start date of the workshop will receive a full refund, minus a two-hundred-and-fifty-dollar ($250.00) processing fee, of which two-hundred and twenty-five dollars ($225.00) is paid to Training Partner and twenty-five dollars ($25.00) is paid to Association. No refunds will be issued for cancellations received thirteen (13) business days or less prior to the start date of the Training Workshop except for emergencies or a visit from state surveyors. State surveyors must be present in the participant’s building in order for the participant to receive a refund. Neither party shall issue a refund for any participant’s withdrawal due to weather unless the Training Workshop is cancelled. ... See MoreSee Less

iQIES MDS/NH Reporting Software Enhancements effective Sept 18, 2026, for provider search and report scheduler changes.
*𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵
The filter has been enhanced to automatically add the provider to the search criteria on the Run Report page when a user is associated with only one CCN.
This means that users who are associated with only one CCN will no longer be required to search for their provider; the system will automatically populate the information for them, thus streamlining the report request workflow by removing extra steps in the process.

*𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗹𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀
Previously, weekly reports ran based on the day the report was originally scheduled rather than the selected weekday. Weekly reports will now run only on the selected weekday.
Previously, the End Date field was displayed as required. The End Date is now optional, allowing reports to be scheduled to run indefinitely by leaving the field blank.
cstu.io/359299 ... See MoreSee Less

The Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Quality Reporting Program (QRP) Measure Calculations and Reporting User's Manual v8.0 and accompanying files are now available. The accompanying documents include a V7.0 to V8.0 Change Table, Risk Adjustment Appendix File, Imputation Appendix File, and HCC ICD-10 crosswalks. These documents serve as an update to the specifications used to calculate quality measures that are included in the SNF QRP effective October 1, 2026.
cstu.io/a2401d
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Effective with the September 2026 refresh, nursing homes that perform highly, in addition to the traditional 5-star rating, will have a trophy icon. 🏆 These nursing homes have fewer citations (safety violations), higher staffing levels, and other quality indicators. Please refer to the CMS Memorandum QSO-26-14-NH for more information. Changes are identified in red, italicized text.
cstu.io/002edc
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The Five-Star rating preview reports for nursing homes were available in iQIES on September 23, 2026. Nursing Home Care Compare will update with the September Five-Star data on or around September 30, 2026.
cstu.io/012f50
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Learn from leaders who understand the role because they have lived it.

Barbara Bates and Linda Winston bring decades of real-world long-term care, nursing leadership, education, quality improvement, and survey experience to the DNS-CT® classroom.

This is more than certification preparation—it is an opportunity to learn practical leadership strategies from experienced teachers who understand the everyday challenges Directors of Nursing face.

Join Barbara and Linda for four days of interactive virtual learning during the upcoming DNS-CT Certification Workshop.
📅 October 20–23, 2026
🎓 22.5 CE credits

Scan the QR code to learn more and register.

#dnsct #NursingLeadership #directorofnursing #LongTermCareLeaders #NurseEducation #ProfessionalDevelopment #AAPACN #MDSCONSULTANTS ... See MoreSee Less

🚨The final Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) User’s Manual version (v)1.20.11 is now available in the Downloads section on the Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) Manual page. The MDS 3.0 RAI User’s Manual v1.20.11 will be 𝙚𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙊𝙘𝙩𝙤𝙗𝙚𝙧 𝟭, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲.
-𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝟭, 𝟮, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝟯: Clarified that State or payer requirements do not replace, modify, or add to CMS coding requirements for non–Section S items.
-𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝟮: Assessments for the RAI: New information regarding resident transfers during a public health emergency.
-𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗔: Identification Information: Updated ethnicity and race reassessment guidance and removed the resident interview icon from several items.
-𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗖: Cognitive Patterns and D: Mood: Clarified language for coding when multiple resident interviews are conducted during the look-back period (e.g., Brief Interview for Mental Status [BIMS] and Resident Mood Interview [PHQ-2 to 9©]).
-𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗠: Skin Conditions: Updated guidance regarding coding pressure ulcers/injuries that are present on admission and that subsequently heal then reopen; added new information on advanced wound care dressings, skin substitutes, and adhesive bandages.
-𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗢: Special Treatments, Procedures, and Programs: Refined isolation criteria and skilled respiratory therapy guidance.
-𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝟲: Medicare Skilled Nursing Facility Prospective Payment System (SNF PPS): Revised terminology related to depression signs and symptoms.
Various minor alignments, clarifications, and corrections have been implemented throughout; specifics can be found in the included chapter/section change tables following the guidance.
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