March 17 Newsletter

 

 

 

 

 

March 17, 2026

 

Spring Leadership Conference Starts Tomorrow!

HCAM’s Spring Leadership Conference begins tomorrow, March 18. Close to 300 of your colleagues have already registered. It’s not too late to join us — you can still sign up to attend virtually. With a strong lineup of topics and speakers for both assisted living and skilled nursing employees, the event can provide the tools you need to thrive in a shifting long-term care landscape. Click here to see the full agenda and to register now. 

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HCAM Reinstitutes Managed Care Committee (SNF/AL)

HCAM has reinstituted our Managed Care Committee to discuss provider health plan concerns and experiences, along with state and federal trends around managed Medicare and Medicaid. The Managed Care Committee will meet April 2 at 10 am, with more meetings to follow in August and November. If you are interested in joining committee, email Michael Batts. 

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CMS Releases Online Provider Complaint Form for MA Plans (SNF)

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released an online form for providers to submit complaints about Medicare Advantage (MA) plans. It is important to note that submitted complaints must be beneficiary-focused for CMS to review them. The form requires information about the complainant, beneficiary, provider, MA plan, a complaint summary, date(s) of service and claim number. Once submitted, the complaint will be sent to the Health Plan Management System Complaints Tracking Module. Complaints will enter a queue; CMS will review and triage before assigning a contract number. As the information is submitted directly online, MA plans will not receive the original provider complaint form. 

Why the Change? This new provider‑initiated complaint process will help ensure that beneficiary access issues are addressed. It will also provide CMS with valuable data to identify patterns and oversee plan performance. Providers should consider using this form to highlight ongoing MA access and care-delivery issues. That will strengthen CMS’ ability to identify systemic problems and support meaningful improvements.

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CMS Updates SNF Provider Enrollment and Revalidation Guidance (SNF)

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently posted three important updates to its SNF Provider Enrollment Guidance and FAQ document.  

  1. The section regarding the suspended application submission due dates for all SNFs was updated with new content, noting that SNFs that have not yet submitted their revalidation applications or had their revalidation applications rejected and have not submitted a new one are still required to submit said applications but may wait to do so until CMS announces a new due date. SNFs that have revalidation applications pending with their Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) can still expect to receive determination letters over the coming months.    
  2. A new Q&A was added indicating that providers who have submitted revalidation applications must still meet the 30-day response time for providing additional information to the MAC.  
  3. A new section regarding longstanding required provider enrollment data (non-SNF attachment data) was added where CMS reminds SNFs that they must supply all required data on the application and complete all other requirements.
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CHAMPS System Outage Scheduled for March 20 (SNF)

The CHAMPS system will be unavailable from 7 pm Friday, March 20, through 11 am Saturday, March 21, 2026. This outage will affect system access for all functions. Changes made during this outage will include the new Prior Authorization (PA) updates per policy (MMP-26-02.pdf). As such, requests for new Prior Authorizations and the new PA provider communication function will not be available until Sunday March 22, 2026. Questions? Email Provider Support.

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Superior Health is the CMS QIN-QIO for Great Lakes Region (SNF)

Superior Health Quality Alliance is the CMS Quality Innovation Network–Quality Improvement Organization (QIN‑QIO) for the Great Lakes Region. They provide no‑cost technical assistance; support spans chronic disease management, behavioral health integration, patient safety, care coordination and overall health care quality — all aligned with CMS national priorities.

Organizations must be enrolled to receive their individualized, no‑cost technical assistance. Enrollment ends in May. To enroll, complete this form or contact [email protected] for more information. 

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LARA Offers Personal Safety and Active Threat Preparedness Training (SNF/AL)

The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) is hosting a free, half-day Personal Safety and Active Threat Preparedness Training, April 14, 2026, for health care facilities. This in-person training will include advanced knowledge – situational awareness, de-escalation techniques and critical situation responses. Register here to reserve your spot. 

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CMS Updates Long Stay Antipsychotic Measure Calculation (SNF)

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently updated the Long Stay Antipsychotic measure calculation to include claims. CMS reports it has identified a subset of residents with a history of schizophrenia that should have been excluded from the measure calculation. Currently, it is updating the calculation to ensure these residents are appropriately excluded from the measure to be consistent with the measure specifications. In addition, CMS plans to update the cut-points used for the measure in the Five-Star calculations. CMS has communicated that it intends to update the data with the Care Compare refresh scheduled for April 29, 2026, and providers will be able to see any updates that are made to their ratings in their April 22 Five-Star Provider Preview Reports on iQIES. If facilities have questions or believe there may be an issue with their Long Stay Antipsychotic measure calculation, CMS encourages them to contact the SNF QRP Help Desk.

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Emergency Preparedness: Updated Health Care Provider Guidance (SNF)

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released updated Health Care Provider Guidance aimed at strengthening emergency preparedness across care settings, including long-term care. The update reinforces the requirements for maintaining a comprehensive emergency preparedness program that includes (1) risk assessment and planning; (2) policies and procedures; (3) a communication plan; and (4) a training and testing program. This guidance aligns with current long-term care regulatory requirements under Appendix Z of the State Operations Manual (SOM); there are no regulation or surveyor guidance changes.  

To learn more about the key elements of the updated information, see American Health Care Association’s summary of the Updated EP Provider Information.

To help Medicare-participating long-term care organizations, ASPR TRACIE created a Topic Collection area that includes by-provider checklists, encompassing CMS’s Appendix Z guidance, and also provides various other resources and tools. Long-term Care Facilities | ASPR TRACIE.  

Additionally, ASPR TRACIE provides personalized support for requests for information and technical assistance and is accessible by calling (844) 587-2243, via email or see this web form.

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CMS Releases Strategic Roadmap (SNF)

The Center for Clinical Standards and Quality (CCSQ) at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the CCSQ FY2025-2028 Strategic Roadmap focusing on five strategic goals: (1) Prevention, (2) Quality and Safety, (3) Coverage Innovation, (4) Data and Technology, and (5) Burden Reduction to make health systems safer, stronger and more transparent. This roadmap incorporates many parts of the Better Way Regulatory Reform package that the American Health Care Administration (AHCA) has been advocating for since the start of this Administration.

The CMS CCSQ roadmap includes:

  • Incorporating evidence-based nutrition standards
  • AI-supported digital quality measures
  • Risk-based surveys
  • Reducing redundant data systems/Streamlining reporting systems
  • Pilot program for accrediting organizations
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HFA Administrative Rule Changes Update: 15 JCAR Days Now Completed

The state has finished processing the new Homes for the Aged ruleset. Recall that it was sent to the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) in December, and the timeline requires 15 legislative days to allow JCAR to review and approve the rule changes. The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs reports that 15 days are now completed and the ruleset has been sent to the Great Seal for final promulgation.

HCAM expects the rules will take effect within the month. The rules modify requirements for communicable disease screening to comport with today’s practice standards; allow HFAs to reduce how frequently primary care providers are contacted each time residents refuse medication; provide regulatory requirements: (a) for a corrective action plan for identified violations, (b) for criteria for dismissing complaint allegations, and (c) to update physical plant requirements to nationally recognized models in congregate settings. Questions? Email HCAM’s Jenny Post.

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

Secure your spot now for this practical, real-world training to clarify all the changes PA 187 brought to skilled nursing facility operations: Thursday, March 26, 2026; 11 am – 12 pm ET.

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.

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