The MDS Data Specifications V3.10.2 (FINAL) are now available for download. This version reflects changes finalized in the FY 2026 SNF PPS final rule (90 FR 37310). Note that there are some minor changes since DRAFT 3 (below) was posted, including a new edit -4096. Please reference the Item Change and Edit Change …
In this LTC NAC Chat podcast episode, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Jessie McGill, RN, BSN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, senior curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, discuss a new way for NACs to test their knowledge – the NAC Competency Evaluation. Additional Resources:
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Question: Please clarify if section O “while a resident.” Per the RAI User’s Manual, “Check all treatments, procedures, and programs that the resident received or performed after admission/entry or reentry to the facility and within the last 14 days. If no treatments, procedures or programs were received by, performed on, …
Question: I miscalculated the ARD window for a 5-Day and scheduled the 5-Day/PPS Discharge on day 9 of the Medicare stay. What do I need to do? Answer from Jeff Taylor:Leave everything as it is and bill one day default for the late assessment. Since the 5-Day is one day …
Question: Can I count IV fluids and IV antibiotics that were administered in the hospital before admission and within the 7-day look-back period? Answer from Carol Maher, RN, GERO-BC, RAC-MTA, RAC-MT, CPC: IV fluid provided during the hospital stay within the 7-day look-back period of the ARD can be coded …
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced the August 2025 Performance Score Reports for the fiscal year (FY) 2026 Skilled Nursing Facility Value-Based Purchasing (SNF VBP) Program are available for download via the Internet Quality Improvement and Evaluation System (iQIES). Access this report to review the performance information …
Overview What is the SNF Validation Program? The SNF Validation Program is an audit-driven initiative aimed at evaluating the accuracy of quality measure data elements derived from the Minimum Data Set (MDS), which are used in the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Value-Based Purchasing (VBP) and Quality Reporting Programs (QRP) for …
This document shows how to upload assessments, create and manage assessments, complete change requests, and review Final Validation Reports (FVR) in iQIES. CMS iQIES Assessment Management for Assessment Submitter v2.0 From https://qtso.cms.gov/software/iqies/reference-manuals
This job aid outlines the user roles and privileges in iQIES. All users must have a role in iQIES. iQIES User Roles Matrix Job Aid v4.5 – 07/29/2025 (PDF 2.56 MB)
August 2025 Updates Weekly RP Summary – Data Collection Forms and Instructions LTCF Resident From https://www.cdc.gov/nhsn/ltc/weekly-covid-vac/index.html
