MDS Broadcast
MDS Broadcast
August 2026
Embedded Files
Resources
Resources
The above link provides guidance on what to do with the MDS in case your facility experiences an evacuation and the need to transfer your residents.
Skilled Nursing Facility 3-Day Rule Billing Fact Sheet – Revised
Skilled Nursing Facility 3-Day Rule Billing Fact Sheet – Revised
Transforming Episode Accountability Model Skilled Nursing Facility 3-Day Rule Waiver
On August 4, 2025, CMS published in the FY 2026 SNF Prospective Payment System (PPS) Final Rule information on Fiscal Year (FY) 2028 Skilled Nursing Facility Value-Based Purchasing (SNF VBP) Program performance standards for the Discharge Function Score for SNFs measure. The Discharge Function Score for SNFs measure is one of the eight measures included in the SNF VBP Program for the FY 2028 Program year.
This communication does not affect the current FY 2027 SNF VBP Program scoring and incentive payments, nor does it affect prior FYs. SNFs do not need to do anything at this time or in the future.
Select the heading for more information.
Heat-related illness prevention
Heat-related illness prevention
Hot weather can affect health across Colorado, even when temperatures do not seem extreme. Total Worker Health means protecting your well-being in every season — including summer. We know many employees like to take their laptops outside or use breaks for a walk. Choose a shaded spot, bring water, limit your time outside during the hottest part of the day, and head indoors if you begin to feel unwell.
Here are four things everyone should know:
Hot weather can be dangerous. High temperatures — especially several hot days in a row — can increase the risk of heat-related illness.
Know the warning signs. Heat exhaustion can usually be treated early, but heat stroke is life-threatening. Call 911 immediately if someone becomes confused, loses consciousness, or has a body temperature above 103°F.
Check on others. Stay connected with people in your community. Older adults, people with medical conditions, people who live alone, and people without reliable cooling may need extra support during hot weather.
Stay hydrated and stay cool. Drink water throughout the day, take regular breaks, and limit strenuous outdoor activity when temperatures are highest.
Check out CDPHE’s heat and health web page for more information and resources.
2026 Complimentary CE Sessions Provided by Pathway Health
2026 Complimentary CE Sessions Provided by Pathway Health
(Sponsored by PharmScript)
(Sponsored by PharmScript)
August 11, 2026 | 2:00 pm ET
1 CE credit for Nurses & NAB for live session attendees
SNFVBP, SNFQRP, Care Compare, CASPER Reports, and state-specific quality measures impact all aspects of skilling nursing facilities today and in the future. This important presentation will provide leaders with key information on the financial, clinical, and regulatory impact of quality measures on their organization.
Select the above link to register.
(Sponsored by ComForCare Home Care)
(Sponsored by ComForCare Home Care)
August 13, 2026 | 2:00 pm ET
1 CE credit for Nurses, Case Managers, Social Workers (MN) & NAB for live session attendees
Conflict and communication breakdowns can derail care plans, strain relationships, and compromise outcomes—especially during care transitions or periods of decline. This highly practical webinar equips care teams with de-escalation techniques, structured communication protocols, and role-play scenarios to manage challenging interactions with families and interdisciplinary partners.
Select the above link to register.
(Sponsored by ComForCare Home Care)
(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.
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.
Articles of Interest
Articles of Interest
From Pathway Health
From Pathway Health
While Infection Prevention and Control remains the leading national citation, followed by Accident Hazards/Supervision/Devices and Quality of Care, several areas moving higher in the rankings are capturing the attention of administrators, DONs, MDS Coordinators, department leaders, and QAPI committees.
Top national citation areas include:
F880 Infection Prevention and Control
F689 Free of Accident Hazards/Supervision/Devices
F812 Food Procurement, Storage, Preparation and Sanitary Service
F684 Quality of Care
F761 Labeling and Storage of Drugs and Biologicals
F656 Develop and Implement Comprehensive Care Plan
F842 Resident Records/Identifiable Information
F755 Pharmacy Services, Procedures, Pharmacist and Records
F677 ADL Care Provided for Dependent Residents
F695 Respiratory/Tracheostomy Care and Suctioning
The shift in survey focus is especially important for leaders. Areas such as comprehensive care plans, medical records, respiratory care and services, and food procurement/sanitation are moving up in the national rankings, as they reflect how well a facility’s systems are working every day, and include:
Care plans must clearly reflect resident-specific risks, needs, goals, and interventions
Medical records must support the care provided and demonstrate follow-through
Respiratory care and suctioning must be supported by competency, physician orders, monitoring, and documentation
Food procurement and sanitation must be consistently managed through infection prevention, dietary oversight, staff practices, and environmental monitoring
This reinforces that surveyors are looking closely at the connection between assessment, MDS accuracy, care planning, physician orders, documentation, staff competency, and actual resident outcomes.
On June 26, 2026, CMS State Operations Manual Chapter 7 revisions further reinforce that survey readiness must be ongoing, not episodic.
CMS continues to emphasize continued compliance, prompt correction of deficiencies, and the expectation that facilities continuously monitor their own performance to sustain compliance. As a facility, you can no longer rely on “getting ready” shortly before a survey. Year-round systems that connect QAPI, audits, documentation review, staff education, environmental rounds, infection prevention, pharmacy oversight, dining services, and resident-specific care delivery need to be developed.
Select the above link to read more.
From PALTNews
From PALTNews
On January 14, 2026, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released Quality & Safety Special Alert Memo QSSAM-26-01-NH to explain recent changes to Nursing Home Care Compare related to the transition to the Internet Quality Improvement and Evaluation System (iQIES). This modernization effort aims to enhance data quality, reliability, and long-term system performance.
Select the above link to read more.
Falls are a significant cause of injury, disability, and death in older adults, especially those who are frail. A systematic review published in JAMDA in 2023 found that the incidence of falls in skilled nursing communities is 121 per 100 person-years. This just-revised PALTmed CPG is intended to give staff working in PALTC communities an understanding of the intrinsic and extrinsic factors involved in falls and to provide guidance on a timely and systematic approach to patient assessment and the selection of appropriate interventions. It recommends processes that, if implemented, should help PALTC communities systematically improve fall prevention and management.
Select the above link to read more.
On April 8, 2026, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Skilled Nursing Facility Prospective Payment System (SNF PPS) Proposed Rule, outlining several proposed updates to Medicare payment rates, quality programs, and data reporting requirements for SNFs.
Select the above link for more details.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the Calendar Year (CY) 2027 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule (CMS-1848-P). PALTmed's advocacy has been focused on pushing for this fix over the past year. This is a proposal, not a final policy. It is subject to change before the final rule is issued. PALTmed will support this proposal and urge CMS to finalize it.
Select the above link for more details.
McKnight's Long-Term Care News
McKnight's Long-Term Care News
CMS presented its proposed 2027 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule earlier this month (see related article above). Among those commenting was PALTmed President Leslie Eber, who noted: "It did not make sense that the same clinician, delivering the same care in the same building, was reimbursed at two very different rates. Clinicians will no longer take a pay cut for seeing a resident during a Part A stay after a hospitalization. This is often when residents need medical care the most, when they are managing a new or worsening medical condition and are most vulnerable to complications and rehospitalization."
Select the above link to read more.
This study examined the short-term within-individual changes in residents' depressive and behavioral symptoms following the March 2020 lockdown in U.S. nursing homes. For residents with minimal or mild depressive symptoms at baseline, those exposed to the lockdown were 22% and 39% more likely to experience worsening symptoms than those unexposed, whereas those with very severe behavioral symptoms at baseline were 7% less likely to show no improvement.
Select the above link to learn more.
The quality of clinical workers in nursing homes has improved in 2026 as more temporary workers have transitioned into permanent roles, driven by higher wages, better benefits, and greater career opportunities, according to leaders at these organizations. At the same time, as the skilled nursing workforce has stabilized over the past year, major providers have reduced their reliance on agency staffing.
Select the above link to read more.
CDC Learning Connection
CDC Learning Connection
Beat The Heat This Summer
Beat The Heat This Summer
Extreme heat can be dangerous, especially for people at increased risk for heat-related illnesses. Use the HeatRisk tool to assess heat-related health risks in your area. Learn how to use the tool to support clinical decision-making. Access the quick start guide for clinicians and patient toolkits to help you identify and treat heat-related illnesses.
Medicare Learning Network
Medicare Learning Network
Skilled Nursing Facilities: Accurately Report Your Related Party Costs
Skilled Nursing Facilities: Accurately Report Your Related Party Costs
In a report, the Office of Inspector General found that some skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) didn’t comply with Medicare requirements for reporting related party costs. These SNFs failed to report related parties on their Medicare Cost Reports or reported the costs inaccurately, resulting in overstated costs to the Medicare Program.
Review the SNF Billing Reference educational tool to find out:
Why related party costs must be reported accurately
How to accurately report these costs and required documentation
Contact Information
Contact Information
Wendy Castro, State RAI Coordinator
wendy.castro@state.co.us
303-692-2854
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