KHCA/KCAL Update 7/16/25

July 16, 2025

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The Latest News

UPDATE: CMS Extends Mandatory SNF Provider Enrollment Revalidation Deadline to January 1, 2026

AHCA has received notice from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) that the agency is extending the deadline for the mandatory SNF provider enrollment off-cycle revalidation from August 1, 2025, to January 1, 2026. AHCA has been advocating for relief on these extensive new reporting requirements since they were announced in late 2024 and will continue to do so. CMS will be issuing formal public notice in the coming days on this extension.

Skilled nursing facility (SNF) providers enrolled in Medicare or dually enrolled in Medicare/Medicaid must submit a mandatory off-cycle provider enrollment revalidation by the specified deadline–or risk having their enrollment suspended or revoked. This extension does not eliminate the reporting requirement, but does allow more time for providers to work through the various data collection and data submission processes. Providers can continue to submit the Form 885A revalidation transactions between now and January 1, 2026.

AHCA will also use this five-month delay to continue to advocate for additional reporting burden relief.

We will provide further updates as they become available.

For assistance submitting this paperwork, access AHCA and CMS resources in this previous blog pos t.

CMS Proposes Physician Payment Rule to Significantly Cut Spending Waste, Enhance Quality Measures, and Improve Chronic Disease Management for People with Medicare

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule that would increase quality care for Medicare recipients while significantly reducing unnecessary spending. The calendar year (CY) 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) proposed rule would advance primary care management through new quality measures, reduce waste and unnecessary use of skin substitutes, and introduce a new payment model focused on improving care for chronic disease management. READ MORE

Upcoming PBJ Submission Deadline and iQIES Service Center Availability Reminder

Due to the Payroll Based Journal (PBJ) quarterly submission deadline on August 14, 2025, the iQIES Service Center is anticipating a significant increase in the volume of calls and emails. READ MORE

Experts Warn Of Unintended Consequences Of OBBBA For Long-Term Care

Skilled Nursing News (7/15, Siddiqi) reports, "The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) has unintended consequences, with more tailwinds than headwinds, for nursing homes and other long-term care, placing greater burdens on states," according to experts who "spoke at a webinar on Tuesday...about the impact of OBBBA on long-term care." For instance, by capping and freezing certain provider taxes, "OBBBA limits how much money states have to support their health care systems, and for that reason industry advocacy groups, including" AHCA/NCAL, "do not support cutting provider taxes."

McKnight’s Senior Living (7/16, Bonvissuto) reports the panel discussion hosted by ATI Advisory also highlighted "what the recently signed bill means for home- and community-based services and long-term services and supports," including Medicaid policy. According to the article, NCAL "notes that ‘a small minority of state Medicaid programs do not cover services in assisted living.’"

Medicare Rate for Physicians to Increase by 2.5% in 2026 under CMS’ Proposed Rule

Average payment rates are set to increase by 2.5% under the proposed 2026 Physician Fee Schedule (PFS), the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced Monday. READ MORE

CMS To Begin Data Collection For New Skilled Nursing Validation Program This Fall

McKnight’s Long-Term Care News (7/14, Marselas) reports, "A new skilled nursing facility validation program could be the ‘tip of the iceberg’ in verifying provider quality measurements and could lead to reduced incentives, reimbursement experts warned this week." This month, CMS "quietly posted new details about the program," which, the article adds, is "essentially...an audit of MDS-based measures that feed the skilled nursing Quality Reporting and Value-Based Purchasing programs." The agency "said data collection will begin this fall to ‘ensure accurate quality data’ for the fiscal year 2025 performance period – affecting 10% of nursing homes per year."

Get Ready for the 2026 AHCA/NCAL National Quality Awards

AHCA/NCAL is pleased to announce the opening of the 2026 National Quality Award Program application cycle. This is a special year, as 2026 marks the Program’s 30th anniversary! Don’t miss your chance to join your peers on this quality journey as we celebrate three decades of excellence. READ MORE

Members Only Nurse Advisory Committee (NAC) and Facility Standards Call - Friday, July 18, 2025 10:00AM - 11:00AM

Join us at 10:00 AM where Cynthia Pendleton, Facility Standards VP, and Linda Farrar, KHCA Clinical Consultant, will review recent SNF survey findings, followed by Nurse Advisory Committee President, Michelle Novotny, to discuss Nursing Scholarships, hot topics, and the latest happenings.

STATEMENT OF KHCA/KCAL’s ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) POLICY

To foster an environment of candor and the open exchange of ideas, KHCA/KCAL prohibits the recording of meetings by attendees. This includes but is not limited to any use of artificial-intelligence tools or assistants that record and transcribe information. KHCA/KCAL has the right to immediately remove AI tools or assistants present on calls and placed by attendees.

Latest Survey Findings

Reflections

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Phone conference ID: 399 320 222#

In Case You Missed It

Your Top Line on LTC Trend Tracker: Projected Impact of Five-Star Survey Changes

The 2025 third quarter edition of Your Top Line was recently released for skilled nursing members. This report shows your projected two-cycle survey score and state ranking on July 30, 2025.

Background

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced on June 18th that it will be changing the survey cycles and weights with July’s Care Compare refresh. While CMS is dropping the third standard survey, they are keeping three years of complaint and infection control focused surveys. READ MORE

If you need help downloading your report, please e-mail Jennafer Sumner at jsumner@khca.org

Clinical Update from KHCA Consultant Linda Farrar

During this past week, there was a fascinating topic included in the LTC National Infection Prevention Forum related to urinary catheters…including suprapubic catheters. In one of the entries, a training program from AHRQ was included as an attachment. Catheter Care and Maintenance | Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. READ MORE

iQIES Enhancement: System Timeout Increase to 30 Minutes

The CMS security team has authorized an increase of the iQIES system timeout to 30 minutes. Previously, users would be automatically logged out of the system after 15 minutes of inactivity. This change is now in effect. Please note that if users are logged out of iQIES, they are brought back to the last active page upon logging in again. Please note that iQIES users will be logged off after 30 minutes of inactivity.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the iQIES Service Center by email: iqies@cms.hhs.gov or by phone:1-800-339-9313. Or to create a new ticket online, track an existing ticket, or recover your HARP password account, please use our CCSQ Support Central: Self-Service Portal.

REMINDER! 2025 Staff Recognition Program: Now is the time to nominate your staff and volunteers!

This is your opportunity to recognize the outstanding staff and volunteers who dedicate themselves to caring for the elders of our great state. Our annual awards ceremony is just one way we celebrate the compassion, commitment, and excellence they bring to their work every day. We deeply appreciate the time you take out of your busy schedule to submit a nomination—your effort helps shine a light on those who truly make a difference.

Winners will be honored at our Annual Convention and Trade Show on Thursday, September 18, 2025.

Deadline to submit nominations is Wednesday, August 13th (NO EXCEPTIONS!)

CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT A NOMINATION

Save the date for the 75th Annual Convention & Trade Show!

More info coming soon! Please note the Tuesday-Thursday dates. (A change from the normal Wednesday-Friday)

🎉 Join us for the 75th Annual KHCA/KCAL Convention & Trade Show!

📍 Kansas Star Event Center

🗓 September 16–18, 2025

We’re excited to celebrate 75 years of excellence in long-term care! The KHCA/KCAL Annual Convention and Trade Show is packed with valuable education, networking, recognition events, and a full day dedicated to vendors in the industry.

Click here to learn more.

Education Spotlight

Fire and Smoke Door Inspections - 90 Minute Live Webinar

July 23, 2025 1:30pm - 3pm

Kenn Daily, LNHA with Elder Care Systems Group has prepared this door inspection training and an inspection form to be used in meeting the annual fire door inspection requirement. The training packet has been developed to provide guidance and training to ensure that individuals inspecting and testing doors are prepared and qualified.

This webinar is available LIVE only and will not be recorded for distribution.

A Certificate of Completion for Training for Swinging Door Inspections will be provided to all attendees who complete the 90-minute webinar. READ MORE