Webinar
Overview
On July 29, 2026, CMS released the FY 2027 Skilled Nursing Facility Prospective Payment System Final Rule. The rule introduces significant changes that may require SNFs to adjust workflows, strengthen collaboration across departments, and devote additional staff time to protecting Medicare reimbursement. Make sure your team understands the FY 2027 SNF PPS Final Rule. In this webinar, , Hansen Hunter’s Director of Education, explains the major changes affecting skilled nursing facilities, including:
- FY 2027 SNF PPS base rates
- New SNF Quality Reporting Program and Value-Based Purchasing reporting and correction deadlines, shortened from 4.5 months to 45 days or less
- Changes to the review and correction of transmitted MDS assessments
- SNF QRP and NHSN measures related to COVID-19 vaccinations and infections that are being removed from reporting requirements
- Quality and staffing measures used for the FY2028 and FY2029 SNF VBP Program
- New MDS requirements scheduled to take effect October 1, 2029
The webinar also examines a major expansion of MDS requirements beginning October 1, 2029. Under the new requirements, SNFs must complete PPS MDS assessments and Part A PPS Discharge assessments for residents receiving skilled care, regardless of payer. Additional MDS items identify payer information, and new item sets apply to nontraditional Medicare payers. Preparing for these changes requires coordination among admissions, billing, MDS, case management, and other staff responsible for identifying residents who receive skilled services and ensuring that required assessments are completed and transmitted.
Learning objectives
After completing this webinar, participants should be able to:
- Describe a change to SNF QRP reporting or correction requirements.
- Identify an SNF QRP measure being removed beginning in FY2027.
- Identify an NHSN measure that is no longer mandatory beginning October 1, 2027.
- Identify a new MDS item being added to assessments beginning October 1, 2029.
Instructor
Carol Maher is a Board-Certified Gerontological Registered Nurse with over 30 years of experience in long-term care. Her extensive career includes roles as an MDS Coordinator, Senior Vice President of Utilization Services, and Director of Reimbursement for large, multi-facility organizations.
Carol was selected as one of the Gold Standard Nurses for MDS 3.0, contributing to the development of the Care Area Assessments (CAAs) through the RAP workgroup and serving on numerous Technical Expert Panels focused on MDS, Quality Measures, and care planning. She is a nationally recognized speaker, presenting regularly at AANAC, AHCA, and LeadingAge conferences, as well as for many state-level organizations. Her writing has appeared frequently in publications covering the RAI process and Prospective Payment System (PPS).
Carol served for nine years on the AANAC Board of Directors and currently sits on the AANAC Expert Advisory Panel. She is also an AANAC Master Teacher. As Director of Education at Hansen Hunter, Carol leads MDS and Medicare training sessions nationwide, presents monthly educational webinars, and conducts compliance audits. She is the author of The Long-Term Care MDS Coordinator’s Field Guide (HCPro, 2016).