Newsletter – January 21, 2026

 

 

 

 

 

January 21, 2026

 

Webinar: Using AHCA’s Nursing Facility Resources to Improve Quality, Compliance and Financial Performance
We have created a free, member-only webinar to highlight the American Health Care Association (AHCA) programs and resources vital to nursing facility operational success, professional development and quality improvement. National experts from AHCA will share how HCAM member facility employees can make the most of these programs. Anyone working for an HCAM member facility is automatically a member of AHCA with access to these valuable resources – the majority of which are free for HCAM members. In addition, HCAM members always receive exclusive member discounts on educational programs and events for which there is a fee. If you’re not taking advantage of AHCA’s resources, you’re missing out on a valuable member benefit. Register for this webinar to learn how to use these resources to boost compliance, clinical outcomes, facility performance and financial success.  The webinar is free to HCAM members! Register here.

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AHCA/NCAL Diversity Executive Leadership Program Applications Open
Be sure to apply for the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) Diversity Executive Leadership Program (DELP) by Friday, February 13, 2026.DELP, with its competitive selection process, offers 15 outstanding candidates a chance to participate in a two-year program focused on leadership development. This opportunity includes comprehensive education, mentoring, networking and active participation in the AHCA/NCAL community. The program is dedicated to empowering individuals from underrepresented groups, including those distinguished by race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability and religion. The program also values diversity in geographic location and organizational affiliation, understanding the importance of different perspectives.

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Here’s When to Expect Your QMI Payments (SNF)
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) calculated the Quality Measures Initiative monthly payment for all providers for October 1, 2025, through March 31, 2026. The payment calculation notice was electronically loaded into your “Archived Documents” folder in CHAMPS. MDHHS will not mail a hard copy of this notice. The QMI monthly payments for October, November and December 2025 will be made January 22, 2026. Payments for January 2026 will be made January 29, 2026. After that, the QMI monthly payment will be made on the last Medicaid payroll for each month. Providers may send questions regarding the calculation(s) via File Transfer or email at [email protected].

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Review Your Corrected QAAP and QMI Notices by February 4 (SNF)
MDDHS reports that the January 20 QAAP and QMI notices contained an error in which the ICO and Medicare census values were reversed. The department has corrected the error, and new notices are in each Provider’s “Archived Documents” in CHAMPS under the provider’s annual QAAP assessment notice applicable to state Fiscal Year October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026.

Please review this document by close of business February 4, 2026, and notify the department of any differences between the provider’s original census reporting to the department (from the Fiscal Year 2024 Worksheet B) and the census data on the notice.  Questions? Contact MDHHS either by written notice “shared” via File Transfer or by email at [email protected]. 

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CMS Updates Medicare Provider Enrollment Site Visit Contractors (SNF)
As of January 3, 2026, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) transitioned to two new national contractors to conduct in-person Medicare provider enrollment site visits to verify operational status. New site visit contractors — East: Arch Systems, LLC and West: Signature Consulting Group. Through February 14, 2026, these existing contractors may continue performing site visits — East: Palmetto GBA and subcontractors (Overland Solutions/EXL, Information Discovery Services, Compliance Review, National Creditors Connection). West: Deloitte Consulting, LLP and subcontractors (Nationwide Management Services, CSI Companies, Arthur Lawrence Management, Computer Evidence Specialists). CMS requires site visit verifications for all provider types as part of the enrollment process, separate from health and safety surveys. Inspectors may take photographs and will present a photo ID and CMS authorization letter (which providers may review but not copy). Providers can confirm a site visit by contacting their MAC. Failure to allow a site visit can result in application denial or revocation of Medicare billing privileges. 

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MDHHS Requests Feedback on Non-Available Bed Plan Policy (SNF)
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is seeking feedback from stakeholders on its non-available bed plan (NABP) policy through the department’s stakeholder engagement meetings. As of October 1, 2025, there is an interim policy in place for nursing facilities in Michigan to adhere to for documenting patient census records and defining rooms available for particular uses. The next stakeholder engagement meeting is scheduled for February 6.  If you would like to participate, please reach out to K. Kelly. 

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Nursing Facility Partnership Meeting January 26 (SNF)
The next Nursing Facility Partnership meeting — a monthly meeting that includes MDHHS, long-term care providers, partners and stakeholders — will be January 26 from 2-3 pm. Reach out to K. Kelly if you would like to be included in the meetings or have agenda items you would like to discuss.

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MDHHS Looking for Rural Health Providers to Serve on Advisory Council (SNF/AL)
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is looking for individuals and organizations from rural health providers — including skilled nursing facilities — to serve on the Rural Health Transformation Advisory Council to support the implementation of the $173.1M awarded to Michigan for FY 2026. MDHHS will prioritize individuals who demonstrate a clear understanding of rural health challenges and advance the mission of the RHT Program. Questions on the application process can be directed to [email protected]. 

The launch of the council ties to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) new Office of Rural Health Transformation. This office will oversee the Rural Health Transformation program which has provided a $50 billion initiative to strengthen rural health systems and expand sustainable access to care nationwide. 

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CMS Looking for Feedback (SNF)
With the upcoming PBJ migration to iQIES in mid-2026, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is seeking feedback on the PBJ User Experience. This feedback request gives providers the opportunity to give input on what works well and what needs to improve before the launch into iQIES. If you are interested in providing feedback, please email [email protected], attention Jenny Newlon.

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CDC Webinar: Preventing/Responding to Respiratory Infections and Outbreaks in LTC (SNF/AL)
A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) webinar on January 27 will provide the latest information for preventing and responding to respiratory infections and outbreaks. The webinar begins at 1 p.m. EST and will also cover considerations for testing, treatment and immunizations for the respiratory infections commonly found in long-term care facilities as well as available resources for personnel, residents and their families. If you are interested in learning more about prevention and response to respiratory infections, register for the CDC webinar here. 

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Join Our Connected Community
Don’t forget that HCAM Assisted Living members have access to an exclusive online community just for our group to facilitate communication among members. This online community is a private, password-protected workspace to communicate, collaborate and securely share information and electronic files with one another. It includes a discussion board, a library and a community member directory — and it’s very easy to use. Questions? Please email HCAM’s Jenny Post. 

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Free Webinar for AL Members: Leveraging Data for Excellence
This one-hour webinar on February 18 at 1 p.m. EST will provide a practical roadmap for how AL providers can leverage data to drive meaningful change and achieve excellence. Participants will gain a clear understanding of the AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Program and learn how data platforms — LTC Trend Tracker and the LTC Data Cooperative — can support quality improvement initiatives and strengthen Quality Award applications. The webinar will also outline actionable strategies for integrating data into decision-making and building a culture of continuous improvement. 

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HCAM Welcomes New Members
We are pleased to welcome two new assisted living community members:
      Creative Living One, an AFC in Charlotte.
      Gunnisonville Meadows, an AFC with two Lansing locations.

We look forward to partnering with these communities to continue to promote excellence in senior care. 

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