MDS Broadcast

*Fiscal Year 2027 Skilled Nursing Facility Prospective Payment System Final Rule (CMS 1843-F) 

*Updated Fiscal Year 2028 Skilled Nursing Facility Value-Based Purchasing (SNF VBP) Program Performance Standards

Applying QAPI to Improve Incontinence in Your Facility (Sponsored by Essity / Tena)

September 24, 2026 | 2:00 pm ET

1 CE credit for Nurses for live session attendees 

The course emphasizes best practices for assessment, care planning, toileting programs, staff communication, documentation, skin protection, dignity, and quality-of-life improvement. Through practical examples, participants will explore how QAPI can be used to reduce avoidable incontinence episodes, improve timely assistance, prevent skin breakdown, strengthen care plan accuracy, and promote resident independence whenever possible.

Select the above link to register.

Evidence-Based Strategies for Supporting Older Adults with Depression and Anxiety 

(Sponsored by ComForCare Home Care)

October 8, 2026 | 2:00 pm ET

1 CE credit for Nurses, Case Managers, Social Workers (MN) & NAB for live session attendees

Depression and anxiety are frequently underrecognized in older adults, yet they significantly impact functional status, quality of life, and overall health outcomes. Timed with Mental Illness Awareness Week and Pharmacy Month, this webinar highlights evidence-based screening, referral, and intervention strategies to support emotional well-being in aging populations. 

Select the above link to register.

Building High-Performing, Resilient Care Teams (Sponsored by ComForCare Home Care)

December 3, 2026 | 2:00 pm ET

1 CE credit for Nurses, Case Managers, Social Workers (MN) & NAB for live session attendees

High-performing care teams are the foundation of quality, consistency, and sustainability in aging services. This webinar focuses on practical leadership strategies to build resilient teams through effective coaching, delegation, and performance measurement. 

Select the above link to register.

FY2027 SNF PPS Final Rule Released  

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the FY2027 SNF PPS final rule last week, effective October 1, 2026. Both the Healthcare Personnel and resident COVID-19 vaccination measures were removed from the SNF Quality Reporting Program (QRP) beginning in FY2028. In addition, CMS will consider requests for information feedback for a future rulemaking for the SNF QRP: advanced care planning (ACP), but is not adopting an ACP measure now. 

Select the above link to read more.

When Social History Becomes the Intervention: A Case-Based Analysis of Social Determinants of Health in Geriatric Care 

Social determinants of health (SDH) are defined as the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age, including the broader forces shaping those conditions. These determinants—housing stability, social support, food access, and economic security—exert a profound influence on health outcomes and equity, shaping disease risk long before patients encounter the health care system. But despite broad recognition of their importance, SDH remain inconsistently incorporated into routine clinical care. 

Select the above link to read more.

The Rising Importance of Social Services in Nursing Homes 

The role of social services is rapidly becoming more complex and central in nursing homes, as caseloads are increasingly shaped by higher clinical acuity and the growing complexity of residents' mental health and social circumstances. As a result, staffing needs cannot be based simply on the number of residents.

Select the above link to read more.

FY 2027 Skilled Nursing Facility Prospective Payment System Final Rule  

CMS issued a final rule for updates to Medicare payment policies and rates for skilled nursing facilities under the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Prospective Payment System (PPS) for FY 2027. 

For FY 2027, CMS finalized updating SNF PPS rates by 2.4% based on the final SNF market basket of 3.3%, reduced by a 0.9% productivity adjustment, for an estimated increase of $882.74 million in aggregate payments to SNFs.

The final rule also includes:

• Final updates to the SNF Quality Reporting Program (QRP)

• SNF QRP request for information (RFI)

• Final updates to the SNF Value-Based Purchasing Program (VBP)

• RFI on updating the Patient Driven Payment Model Payment System to address case-mix upcoding

More Information:

• Full fact sheet

• SNF PPS webpage

• SNF QRP webpage

• SNF VBP Program webpage

Nursing Homes: Get Health & Fire Safety Deficiency Information 

Find out about health and fire safety deficiencies for nursing homes. Now, CMS lists the most severe level of harm first to:

• Help users quickly identify critical facility issues

• Improve our home inspection result transparency

Get detailed deficiency information:

• iQIES portal: Get provider reports

• Nursing Home Care Compare: Generate and download statements

• CMS Provider Data Catalog: Download files

ICD-10 & Other Coding Revisions to National Coverage Determinations: January 2027 Update 

Learn about updates (PDF), effective January 1, 2027