News for MDS Experts
Check out our insightful articles and current social feed of news that’s important to MDS Coordinators.
Our Latest Articles
Keeping Up with Quality Measures in 2026
Quality measures (QM) that are driven by MDS data are currently utilized for long term care (LTC) facilities and skilled nursing facilities (SNF) in several ways. These QMs are publicly reported via...
The Latest in the Lineup: The Skilled Nursing Facility Validation Program
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) audits of skilled nursing facility (SNF) Minimum Data Set (MDS) data are nothing new. The MDS 3.0 was implemented in 2010, and in 2014 CMS piloted MDS...
How the MDS is Utilized During the Survey Process
Have you ever wondered how the survey team determines which residents they will focus on during a standard survey in the skilled nursing facility/long term care facility (SNF/LTC)? The answers...
🚨January 2026 Revisions: Effective with the January 2026 refresh, CMS will replace the existing long-stay antipsychotic medication quality measure with a respecified measure that incorporates Medicare and Medicaid claims data and Medicare Advantage encounter data to supplement MDS data. The scoring cut points for this respecified measure will be set to place providers into 10 equal deciles based on the distribution of providers’ performance. Please refer to CMS Memorandum QSO-25-20-NH REVISED for more information.
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📢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/78022a and the Provider Data Catalog (PDC) during the April 2026 refresh.
Data contained within the Provider Preview Reports are based on quality assessment data submitted by SNFs from Quarter 3, 2024 through Quarter 2, 2025.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗢𝗩𝗜𝗗-𝟭𝟵 𝗩𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗲: 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀/𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗨𝗽 𝘁𝗼 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝟮, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (𝗖𝗗𝗖) 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗹𝘂𝗲𝗻𝘇𝗮 𝗩𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗔𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝟰, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝟭, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗗𝗖 𝗖𝗢𝗩𝗜𝗗-𝟭𝟵 𝗩𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗮𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹 (𝗛𝗖𝗣) 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝟮, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗺𝘀-𝗕𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝟰, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟮 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝟯, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗡𝗙 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲-𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 (𝗛𝗔𝗜) 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝟰, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝟯, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰.
Providers have until February 14, 2026, to review their performance data.
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𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝘂𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆!
The discussion and questions were so thoughtful that we ran a bit over time — and it was well worth it.
A special thank you to 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝗶𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝗹𝗹𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗶 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗲𝗿 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗽𝘆 for sharing her expertise and helping make this such a great conversation.
If you missed it or want to revisit the discussion, the webinar is free and available to watch — be sure to check it out.
👉https://https://cstu.io/12ee53
If there are topics your team would like to explore further, feel free to reach out. We’re always happy to talk through education options that support your goals.
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The December 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.
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𝗧𝘂𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗧𝗶𝗽: Restorative Nursing vs. Therapy: Clarifying Roles and Documentation Requirements
📅 January 13 | 1:00 PM ET
🎓 Free Public Webinar
𝗜𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝘄𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹:
✅Therapy and restorative nursing regulatory requirements
✅Key MDS components impacted by therapy and restorative nursing
✅Ways to maximize collaborative processes between therapy and nursing to support compliance and resident outcomes
📬 𝗔𝗹𝘀𝗼 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆: our latest newsletter, From Coding to Compliance: Avoiding Pitfalls in the 2026 MDS Landscape, explores how overlapping regulations, internal policies, and evolving expectations impact MDS accuracy—and what facilities can do now to stay ahead.
Watch the Tuesday Tip video, read today’s newsletter, and join us tomorrow for practical guidance your IDT can use right away.
👉 Join us tomorrow: cstu.io/1b480a
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🚨The Five-Star rating preview reports for nursing homes were available in iQIES on January 7, 2026. Nursing Home Care Compare will update with the December Five-Star data on or around January 14, 2026.
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𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗙𝘂𝗻 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝘁:
Restorative nursing programs were added to the MDS to capture the nursing work that maintains or improves function after therapy ends — because CMS recognized that progress doesn’t stop when therapy does.
🎉 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗪𝗲𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿 • 𝗝𝗮𝗻 𝟭𝟯
𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗡𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘃𝘀. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗽𝘆
🌟 Special guest: Julie Bellucci (Premier Therapy)
👉 Save your spot: mdsexpert.com/webinars-training
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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
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🎉 𝗞𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳𝗳 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗪𝗲𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿! 🎉
This is our FIRST webinar of the year — and you’re invited.
📅 Jan 13 | Restorative Nursing vs. Therapy: Clarifying Roles & Documentation Requirements
𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝘀𝗸𝗲𝗱: “𝗜𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗻𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗽𝘆?” 𝗼𝗿 “𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗰𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄?” — 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂.
Attendees of this seminar will:
• Review therapy and restorative nursing regulatory requirements
• Discuss key MDS components that can be impacted by therapy and restorative nursing
• Delve into maximizing collaborative processes between therapy and nursing
𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱: Administrators, DNS, NACs/MDS Coordinators, Clinical Nurse Managers, Therapy Staff, and IDT members.
𝗟𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗠𝗗𝗦 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀: Jessica Stucin, RN, BSN, LNHA, RAC-MT, RAC-CT, RAC-CTA, QCP; Kristine Martinez, RN, BSN, DNS-CT, RAC-CT, RAC-CTA, QCP
Featuring a special guest speaker from our partners at Premier Therapy: Julie Bellucci, MS, CCC-SLP, DCP
𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲: cstu.io/4f197d
Registration is required to receive your personal login link.
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