MDS Consultants

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MDS Consultants

Get expert, practical help for your facility.

MDS Consultants makes your team more proficient in skilled MDS documentation, ICD-10 coding, Interim Payment Assessments, Medicare regulations, reimbursement maximization and PDPM.

08/25/2026

The Five-Star rating preview reports for nursing homes will be available in iQIES on August 19, 2026. Nursing Home Care Compare will update with the August Five-Star data on or around August 26, 2026.

Important Note: The Five-Star Helpline (800-839-9290) will be available August 24-28, 2026. For assistance logging into iQIES, please contact the iQIES Service Center via email (iQIES@cms.https://cstu.io/0b2237) or by phone (800-339-9313).
https://qtso.cms.gov/news-and-updates/notice-five-star-rating-preview-reports-august-2026/?utm_source=contentstudio.io&utm_medium=referral

08/24/2026

The Skilled Nursing Facility Data Validation Process: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) have been updated August 2026.
-The SNF data validation process assesses the accuracy of Minimum Data Set (MDS)-based quality measures used in the SNF Value Based Purchasing (VBP) and Quality Reporting Programs (QRPs).
-SNFs are notified of selection through their Internet Quality Improvement and Evaluation System (iQIES) MDS 3.0 Provider Preview Reports folder. SNFs are notified once they have been selected for the data validation process. Selection notifications are released in 𝘍𝘦𝘣𝘳𝘶𝘢𝘳𝘺, 𝘔𝘢𝘺, 𝘈𝘶𝘨𝘶𝘴𝘵, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘕𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳.
-SNFs are required to submit requested medical record documentation to support the validation of up to 10 MDS assessment records. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘣𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯 45 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘳 𝘥𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘧ication.
-For the FY2025 performance year/FY2027 program year, noncompliance may result in a 2% reduction of a SNF’s Annual Payment Update for the FY2027 SNF QRP program year in accordance with Section 1888(e)(6)(A) of the Act. For the FY2026 performance year/FY2028 program year, noncompliance may result in a 2% reduction of a SNF’s Annual Payment Update for the FY2028 SNF QRP program year in accordance with Section 1888(e)(6)(A) of the Act.
https://www.cms.gov/files/document/data-validation-process-frequently-asked-questions-08-11-2026-pdf.pdf?utm_source=contentstudio.io&utm_medium=referral
https://www.cms.gov/medicare/quality/value-based-programs/value-based-purchasing-snf-vbp-program/data-validation-process/?utm_source=contentstudio.io&utm_medium=referral

08/22/2026

𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗪𝗘𝗕𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗥 – 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰!

October 1 is coming—are you ready for the 2026 MDS updates?

Join the MDS Consultants Education Team on September 10 as we break down what’s changing and what it could mean for facility processes, MDS accuracy, quality measures, and reimbursement.

📅 September 10
💻 Free & Open to the Public
🔗 Register today: https://cstu.io/da2d30/

𝗗𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝗶𝘁 𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗹 𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲!

08/21/2026

The reports guide provides detailed information on user-requested Payroll-Based Journal (PBJ) reports available in iQIES was posted on 8/14/2026. The reports are organized in alphabetical order by report name. Each report is set up as follows: • Report Name and Purpose • Run Report Criteria • Sample Report • Report Details
https://qtso.cms.gov/software/iqies/reference-manuals/?utm_source=contentstudio.io&utm_medium=referral
https://qtso.cms.gov/system/files/qtso/iQIES%20Reports%20Guide%20PBJ%20v1.0.pdf?utm_source=contentstudio.io&utm_medium=referral

08/20/2026

The Skilled Nursing Facility Quality Reporting Program (SNF QRP) Overview of Data Elements Used for Reporting Assessment-Based Quality Measures and Standardized Patient Assessment Data Elements Affecting FY 2028 Annual Payment Update (APU) Determination has been updated. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS’s) Skilled Nursing Facility Quality Reporting Program (SNF QRP) requires SNFs to submit quality measure and standardized resident assessment data elements to CMS. For a given data submission period, the Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessments submitted by an SNF must meet the Annual Payment Update (APU) minimum data completion threshold of not less than 90 percent of the assessments having 100 percent completion of the required data elements. These are the standardized patient assessment data elements and the data elements needed to calculate the SNF QRP quality measures. Successful assessment completion means that the assessment does not contain non informative responses (i.e., “dash” [–]) for required data elements. Please note that while the coding of a “dash” is an optional response value for many of the data elements listed in this table, its use does not count toward meeting the APU minimum data completion threshold. Failure to meet the minimum threshold may result in a 2 percentage point reduction in the SNF’s APU.
https://www.cms.gov/medicare/quality/snf-quality-reporting-program/measures-and-technical-information/?utm_source=contentstudio.io&utm_medium=referral
https://www.cms.gov/files/document/fy2028-snf-qrp-apu-tableforreportingmeasuresanddata-revaug2026-508.pdf?utm_source=contentstudio.io&utm_medium=referral

08/19/2026

CMS updated the LTC Survey Resources to include Risk Based Survey and made updates to Chapter 7.
𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗸 𝗕𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗲:
𝗥𝗕𝗦 𝗜𝗣 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗔𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗯𝘀
𝗥𝗕𝗦 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗵𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀
𝗥𝗕𝗦 𝗖𝗠𝗦 𝟴𝟬𝟮
𝗥𝗕𝗦 𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗺
𝗥𝗕𝗦 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗧𝗮𝘀𝗸𝘀 𝗝𝗼𝗯 𝗔𝗶𝗱
𝗥𝗕𝗦 𝗠𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗜𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗔𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀
𝗥𝗕𝗦 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲
𝗥𝗕𝗦 𝗦𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗝𝗼𝗯 𝗔𝗶𝗱
https://www.cms.gov/medicare/provider-enrollment-and-certification/guidanceforlawsandregulations/nursing-homes/?utm_source=contentstudio.io&utm_medium=referral

08/18/2026

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is offering a web-based training that provides an overview of Section K of the Minimum Data Set (MDS). The course reviews the purpose, assessment steps, coding instructions, coding tips, key definitions, and calculation methods for accurately assessing and coding Section K items.
To access the training, select the following link: https://www.cms.gov/medicare/quality/snf-quality-reporting-program/training/?utm_source=contentstudio.io&utm_medium=referral/?utm_source=contentstudio.io&utm_medium=referral
If you have questions about accessing resources or feedback regarding trainings, please email the PAC Training Mailbox.
Content-related questions should be submitted to the SNF QRP Help Desk.

08/17/2026

🤝 We're excited to partner with Premier Therapy at LeadingAge Ohio!

Join Jessica Stucin and Julie Bellucci as they present:
The Pain Equation: Linking Assessments, Survey & Quality of Life

Pain impacts far more than comfort—it influences assessments, survey outcomes, quality measures, and ultimately a resident's quality of life. This session will explore practical strategies to help interdisciplinary teams connect the dots and improve both resident care and regulatory outcomes.

📅 Tuesday, August 25, 2026
🕜 1:30 PM – 2:45 PM

If you'll be attending LeadingAge Ohio, we hope to see you there!

08/14/2026

The Internet Quality Improvement & Evaluation System (iQIES) User Roles Matrix Job Aid Version 5.1 was updated on July 28, 2026. This update includes user roles for PBJ (Payroll-Based Journal), the PBJ View and the PBJ Submitter. Table 2 includes PBJ Roles and Privileges.
https://qtso.cms.gov/software/iqies/reference-manuals/?utm_source=contentstudio.io&utm_medium=referral

08/13/2026

To: iQIES Users in Production
Due to scheduled maintenance, the internet Quality Improvement and Evaluation System (iQIES) will be unavailable from Friday, August 14, 2026, at 8 PM ET to Monday, August 17, 2026, at 8 AM ET. All iQIES functionality, including Assessments, Survey & Certification, CLIA, Reports, Dashboards, and access to State views via the Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) will be disabled.
For additional assistance, email the iQIES Service Center at iqies@cms.https://cstu.io/c75ee5 or contact the iQIES Service Center at (800) 339-9313, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM–8:00 PM ET. You may also request assistance via secure chat or schedule a call through CCSQ Support Central. Please note that Chat support is currently limited to 9:00 AM-5:00 PM ET, Monday through Friday.
https://cstu.io/2695b9

Address

105 Pearl Street
Marilla, NY
14103

Website

https://www.mds-consultants.com/

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