April 15, 2026

 

HCAM Awards of Excellence: Nominate Someone Today!

Nominations for scholarships and Awards of Excellence to honor individuals, teams and residents in Michigan’s skilled nursing and assisted living sectors are open until May 15. It takes time to gather all the needed information and materials, so you may want to start the process today. Get all the details on the award categories and link to each award’s nomination form.

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This One’s for You Northern Michigan: Secure Your Spot at the U.P. Conference

HCAM understands that location is an important consideration when it comes to deciding whether or not to attend a conference. That’s why we are coming to you! We’re hosting a top-notch event in Marquette with timely, relevant sessions for skilled nursing facilities and assisted living communities, as well as helpful and fun networking opportunities.

Register now to join your colleagues on May 4-5, 2026.

HCAM secured a discounted group rate at the Landmark Inn of Marquette if booked prior to April 17. Room availability and/or the discounted group rate is not guaranteed, and there are a limited number of rooms available. To reserve your room now: (1) Call the hotel directly at (906) 228-2580 and reference group block code HCAM26 or (2) Book via the website HERE.

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Data Shows Nursing Facilities are Improving Care, Building a More Stable Workforce and Enhancing Resident Experiences 

Facilities across the country are demonstrating meaningful progress in quality improvement, according to a new report, which includes federal data on key quality measures and patient outcomes since the end of the COVID Public Health Emergency. Focusing on key measures of care and experience, the report shows improved outcomes for both short-term patients and long-term residents as well as a more stable long-term care workforce.

Highlights include:

  • Additional patients regaining their independence: Nearly 95,000 more short-stay patients improved their functional abilities, while almost 30,000 more patients successfully returned home.
  • Fewer hospital visits: Nursing facility care helped patients avoid more than 14,000 emergency room visits.
  • Improving outcomes: More long-stay residents are experiencing successful prevention of weight loss, pressure ulcers, urinary tract infections and catheter use.
  • Record participation in a nationally recognized quality-improvement program: The AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Program has experienced 134% growth in applications from skilled nursing and other long-term care organizations. Silver and Gold recipients are shown to perform better than the average nursing facility on Five-Star and numerous quality measures. In 2025, Michigan had the 5th most Silver and the 5th most Bronze winners of all the states! 
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State Seeks to Increase Licensing Fees for SNF, HFA and Hospice

The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) is seeking to increase bed fees for nursing facilities, homes for the aged and hospice residencies. This proposal stems from a recommendation included in the 2023 Office of the Auditor General Performance Audit Report. The proposal would increase bed fees is as follows:

Bed Fees Current Fee  New Proposed Fee
Nursing Facilities $3 $10
Homes for the Aged $6.27 $10
Hospice Residences $5 $10

The current license renewal fee for nursing homes is $500, in addition to the $3 per bed fee after the first 100 beds. Last year, 220 Michigan nursing facilities did not pay a bed fee because they had fewer than 100 beds. LARA’s proposal would apply bed fees to all facilities – the first 100 beds would no longer be excluded from the fee. According to the department, depending on the number of beds per licensed health facility, the cost increase to individual providers would be as follows:

  • Nursing facilities: Range from $80 to $2,456.
  • Homes for the aged: Range from $79 to $992.
  • Hospice residences: Range from $40 to $160.

The bed fee increase is included in Governor Whitmer’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget recommendation. As the budget is reviewed and amended by both the House and Senate, HCAM will advocate to maintain the current fee schedule.

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State Launching New Licensing Process for Nursing Facilities

The licensing requirement for nursing facilities is governed by the state administrative rule set R 325.45101 to R325.45385. Renewals must be completed through the Bureau of Community and Health Systems (BCHS) eLicense portal no later than July 31 each year, unless otherwise specified on a license.

BCHS is in the process of developing a new state licensing web-based program that will launch in August 2026. The new system will streamline license renewal and allow printable licenses for nursing facilities. The BCHS eLicense portal will shut down for the transition, which will delay license renewal. Be aware that BCHS plans to notify state license holders to renew their license early to avoid renewal disruptions. 

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CMS Proposes 2.4% Medicare Rate Increase for SNFs

As we previously shared, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the proposed rule for the skilled nursing facility prospective payment system for fiscal year 2027. Our national affiliate — the American Health Care Association — is reviewing the proposed rule. Highlights include:

Payment Rates: The rule proposes a 2.4% increase to Medicare Part A rates in FY 2027. That’s approximately $888 million, beginning October 1, 2026. This is based on the proposed SNF market basket increase of 3.2%, minus a 0.8% productivity adjustment. Please note that the net update will vary geographically. 

SNF Quality Reporting Program (QRP) Updates:  

  • The proposed rule would remove two measures starting in FY 2028: (1) The COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage among Healthcare Personnel measure, and (2) The COVID-19 Vaccine: Percent of Patients/Residents Who Are Up to Date measure. 
  • CMS is proposing to revise the timeframe for data submission from 4.5 months to no later than the 15th day of the second month after the end of the calendar quarter beginning with the FY 2029 SNF QRP.
  • The agency also seeks feedback on one potential measure for adoption in future years: advanced care planning. 

SNF Value-Based Purchasing (VBP) Updates:

  • CMS is providing estimated performance standards for the FY 2029 and 2030 program years to comply with the program’s statutory notice deadline.
  • The agency is proposing to update the “snapshot dates” for two MDS-based measures (DC Function and Major Injury Long-Stay) to maintain alignment with the newly proposed revisions to SNF QRP submission deadlines for MDS assessment data, beginning with FY 2027 data.

Request for Information on the Patient Driven Payment Model (PDPM): CMS is asking for input on potential updates to PDPM to address Case Mix Upcoding as part of a broader effort to ensure that payment policy reflects current care practices and changes in the SNF resident population. 

Learn more from the CMS fact sheet and view the proposed rule in the Federal Register. 

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State Shares 2025 Nursing Facility Audit and Settlement Annual Report 

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services released the Nursing Facility Audit and Settlement Annual Report for 2025. The report, which shares data on long-term care payments, quality assurance supplement payments, cost report acceptance and audit information, can be found here.

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Upcoming File Transfer Service Portal Downtime

Due to scheduled maintenance, the File Transfer Service server will be unavailable April 19 from 7 am to 1 pm EST. The state asks that providers refrain from submitting electronic files during this time. Billing agents or submitters with additional questions may email [email protected].

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Upcoming CHAMPS Outage

Due to monthly maintenance and emergency release, the CHAMPS system will be unavailable from 6 pm April 18 to 9 am EST April 19. This outage will affect system access for all functionalities. Providers with questions may email Provider Support or call (800) 292-2550.

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PBJ Submission Deadline is May 15

Providers must submit their Payroll Based Journal (PBJ) data for Quarter 2 (January 1 – March 31, 2026) by May 15, 2026. As providers prepare submission, please remember: 

  • All PBJ XML files must be submitted using Version 4.10.0. Providers should confirm that their internal systems and any contracted vendors have fully transitioned to Version 4.10.0 before submitting Q2 data.  
  • Any XML file submitted using a prior version will be rejected. 

What’s changing in version 4.10.0: 

  • Users will no longer be able to submit more than 22.5 hours per employee ID per day across all job titles. 
  • If your facility uses linked employee IDs, continue to ensure that the total hours for one system ID (representing one person) do not exceed 22.5 hours. 
  • Users will no longer receive a warning for hire or termination dates for 2026 and beyond. 

At minimum, providers should: 

  • Verify all reported hours, including Medical Director hours.  
  • Review PBJ validation reports for errors or warnings.  
  • Confirm that no files were rejected during submission.  
  • Ensure the correct reporting quarter was selected . 
  • Validate employee IDs and job codes for accuracy.  
  • Review the Final File Validation Report.
  • Review All PBJ CASPER Reports.

CMS resources for PBJ support: 

All files must be submitted by May 15, 2026, at 11:59 pm EST.

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CMS Releases Updated Five-Star Quality Rating Program Technical User’s Guide (SNF)

​The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released an updated Five-Star Quality Rating Program Technical User’s Guide, effective with the April 2026 refresh. The long-stay antipsychotic medication quality measure calculation is updated to ensure that all residents with a history of schizophrenia are excluded, consistent with established specifications. A subset of these residents was not appropriately excluded from the measure data released in January 2026. As CMS notes in the guide, this change did not have a significant impact on scores for this measure or quality measure ratings. However, the scoring cut points for this measure will be reset with the April 2026 refresh to place providers into deciles using data from 2024Q4-2025Q3.  Questions? Email HCAM’s Colin Endres-Bercher.

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Register Today for the Spring Joint Provider Surveyor Training (SNF)

Registration is open until May 4 for the in-person Joint Provider Surveyor Training on May 19, hosted by the Bureau of Survey and Certification (BSC). The training will center around resident rights: councils, arbitrations and discharges. BSC is encouraging participants to wear their favorite jersey or sports-themed clothing to foster the spirit of collaboration. BSC created an FAQ to answer event and accommodation questions. Questions? Email Marie Kone-Hadden or call (517) 643-7813.

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HCAM Webinar:
PA 187 in Practice – Survey Trends and Incident Reporting Every Leader Should Know (SNF)

Secure your spot now for this practical, real-world training to clarify all the changes PA 187 brought to skilled nursing facility operations: Thursday, April 23, 2026; 2-3 pm EST.

Michigan Public Act 187 of 2022 introduced significant changes to state oversight of skilled nursing facilities, increasing regulatory scrutiny and raising new questions about incident reporting and survey enforcement. This session will break down the key provisions of PA 187, review emerging survey trends, and clarify Facility Reported Incident (FRI) reporting requirements. Participants will gain practical guidance to strengthen compliance practices and confidently navigate evolving state and federal expectations.

This program has been submitted but not yet approved for Continuing Education for 1 total participant hour by NAB/NCERS if attended live on Zoom. No CE will be offered for on-demand participation, although the session will be recorded for later access. Register here. 

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Build a Stronger Team: Register Staff for this High-Impact Course

Many residents in assisted living require support with medication management. HCAM’s comprehensive, in-person medication management program on April 22 in Metro Detroit will equip your staff to provide this essential service safely, while maintaining compliance with state training regulations. Employees will build confidence as they learn to administer medications orally, topically, by inhalation and by instillation. Support skills, including blood pressure measurement, cold compress application, dressing changes and vital signs, are also covered if needed.The program is tailored to train staff in Homes for the Aged, Adult Foster Care, and other assisted living settings. Competency exams and knowledge checks for each unit are included, with a course completion certificate awarded at the end. Learn more here.

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This One’s for You Northern Michigan Assisted Living Communities

HCAM understands that location is an important consideration when it comes to deciding whether or not to attend a conference. That’s why we are coming to you! We’re hosting a top-notch event in Marquette with timely, relevant sessions for assisted living communities as well as helpful and fun networking opportunities. Specific assisted living topics include:

  • AFC/HFA updates
  • Roundtable discussion about current AL issues
  • Sales and marketing for AL communities
  • Tips for maximizing first impressions

Additional session topics include:

  • Opening Keynote: Crisis Leadership & Administrator/Executive Director Burnout
  • Employment Law Update
  • Implicit Bias – How it Impacts our Work

Register now to join the HCAM team along with your long-term and post-acute care colleagues in Marquette on May 4-5, 2026

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Apply Now for HCAM Assisted Living Scholarship and Other AL Awards

The nominating period is now open for HCAM’s Assisted Living Scholarship as well as the association’s long-term care awards of excellence for assisted living teams, individuals and residents. HCAM’s Assisted Living Scholarship can help employees meet education expenses and advance the long-term care profession. Scholarship applicants must be employed for at least one year by an HCAM assisted living community member in good standing and be enrolled in an education program related to long-term care at an accredited college or university. This can include, but is not limited to, life enrichment, direct care, administration, sales, cooking, maintenance, med tech, occupational therapy and other related fields. HCAM will award up to two $2,500 scholarships. Get the details here. 

HCAM also offers awards for assisted living settings in three categories (1) Team of Excellence, (2) Gerry Baker Hero of Health Care and (3) Resident of the Year.

Find out more here. 

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