Federal Register #2026-15562

CMS Final Rule: FY 2027 Payment and Quality Reporting Updates for Skilled Nursing Facilities

This final rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), under the Department of Health and Human Services, updates payment and quality reporting requirements for Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs) for Federal Fiscal Year 2027. - Government Buyer: - Department of Health and Human Services - Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) - No specific Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) or commercial vendors are named in this rule. - Products/Services Requested: - Annual update to SNF Prospective Payment System (PPS) payment rates, resulting in a 2.4% increase (approx. $882.74 million total increase) - Revision of SNF Quality Reporting Program (QRP) data submission deadlines to improve timeliness - Removal of two COVID-19 vaccination coverage measures from SNF QRP due to updated clinical guidelines - Requirement for SNFs to submit Minimum Data Set (MDS) data on all residents receiving covered skilled care, regardless of payer, starting in a future fiscal year - Finalization of performance standards for the SNF Value-Based Purchasing (VBP) Program for upcoming years - Unique/Notable Requirements: - SNFs must submit new MDS data elements to capture payer and stay information for all residents - Data submission deadlines for quality reporting are shortened to the 15th day of the second month after each quarter - Removal of COVID-19 vaccination measures reflects evolving public health guidance - No procurement of products, equipment, or IT systems is specified in this rule

Description

This final rule updates policies and payment rates for fiscal year 2027 under the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Prospective Payment System (PPS). It also updates requirements for the SNF Quality Reporting Program and the SNF Value-Based Purchasing Program. The rule finalizes changes including removal of certain COVID-19 vaccination measures from the quality reporting program, revises data submission deadlines, and updates performance standards for the value-based purchasing program. Additionally, it addresses consolidated billing requirements and wage index adjustments for SNFs.

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