March 4, 2026

 

 

 

 

 

March 4, 2026

 

Don’t Miss Our Spring Leadership Conference

The agenda is set. Join us for a day and a half of top-notch sessions will provide real-world value for both skilled nursing and assisted living members including:
• A dynamic workshop that challenges leaders to shift mindsets from holding on to employees to actively investing in them so they never want to leave;
• Battle-tested skills for handling challenging moments;
• Managing pain at end-of-life insights and techniques;
• Employment law updates and more.

In addition, we’ve got specific topics for each setting including the following:

Skilled Nursing
• AI Tools to Reduce Workload
• Managed Care – Thinking Three Moves Ahead
• Michigan Regulatory and Reimbursement Updates
• Future of the Sector                           

Assisted Living
• Sales and Marketing
• 90-Day Retention Blueprint
• Administrative Rules Update
• Incident Responses that Protect Residents, Staff and Your Organization
• Patient Centered Care, Medications and DNA

Increase Your Value — Join Us In Person
• Take advantage of face time with LTC attorneys and state of Michigan regulators.
• Network with vendors during several breaks and a special reception.
• Use the networking lunch and breaks to connect with peers. 

And, while the benefits of meeting face-to-face are tough to beat, HCAM also offers options for those unable to attend in person, including live-stream and on-demand access, which will be available for 30 days after the conference. 

Register Here.

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Medicaid Shortfall – Policymakers Exploring Efficiencies in Medicaid Funding

Negotiations around the state fiscal year 2027 budget are underway following the presentation of Governor Whitmer’s proposed budget to the Michigan House and Senate Appropriations Committees in February. Much of the focus is on a funding gap in the Michigan Medicaid Program due to cuts included last year at the federal level in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). The OBBBA caused a significant cut to the provider tax for Managed Care Organizations (MCO) and hospitals. Beginning in 2027, the limits for these provider taxes will be reduced; therefore, the state is seeking to address a shortfall of hundreds of millions of dollars for the first year. In subsequent years, the limits will decrease further and there will be a larger shortfall.

It is our understanding that the MCO tax funded more than just managed care programs – those federal dollars were used to fund various Medicaid programs. The cut has spurred the State Budget Office, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and policymakers to review all Medicaid programs. To offset the shortfall, the governor proposed $804.4 million in new revenue from various new taxes on tobacco, vape, casinos, internet gambling and digital advertising. Michigan House Speaker Matt Hall continues to oppose the proposed increases.

Negotiations between the Republican majority in the House, the Democrat majority in the Senate, and the governor will continue over the next several months and will include discussion around the proposed tax increases and potential impact on Michigan’s Medicaid program.

While policymakers have not proposed any cuts to nursing facility or other Medicaid providers at this time, if a funding agreement is not reached, it is possible Medicaid providers, including long-term care, could have cuts proposed during the state budget process.

HCAM will emphasize with state policymakers that the OBBBA explicitly excluded nursing facility Medicaid from the cuts, and the state budget should reflect the same. Meetings with appropriations chairs and committee members are underway, and HCAM will continue to advocate for adequate Medicaid funding for long-term care.

Questions? Email Rich Farran.

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CON Annual Survey Due April 30

The annual survey from Certificate of Need (CON), which is required to be completed by all nursing facilities in the state, is now available. It’s due April 30, 2026.

If you need help:

  • Please visit the website at Annual Survey Training Videos (michigan.gov) for section-by-section assistance. Videos can be paused and replayed as needed. The information provided in the live webinars is the same information as in the recordings. 
  • For password, login, physician volume file, unlocking the survey section, or survey functionality questions/issues, please email SEMHA survey support staff or call (248) 761-1714, weekdays from 8 to 5.   
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We Need Your Input: Please Provide SNF Dialysis Data (SNF)

HCAM is working with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) on recognizing certain Medicaid staffing expenses for dialysis services provided in home at a skilled nursing facility. MDHHS has requested additional Michigan SNF provider dialysis expense data to better understand the differences between SNF in home dialysis vendor expenses and outpatient dialysis transportation costs. Many Michigan providers use third-party dialysis vendors to administer dialysis services in skilled nursing facilities who charge a fee to compensate for staffing not covered by Medicaid reimbursement.

If your facility currently provides in-house dialysis and has incurred dialysis vendor staffing expense, please share your data here by March 13. 

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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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MDHHS Nursing Facility Cost Report Preparation Webinar Slides Available (SNF)

The slides are now available from the February 25 Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Nursing Facility webinar, which provided high-level information on cost report preparation and other Medicaid reimbursement information. 

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Two AHCA Webinars About Better Managing Medicare Advantage Challenges (SNF)

​​The American Health Care Association (AHCA) now offers a two-part webinar series designed to help nursing facilities tackle the challenges of working with Medicare Advantage plans. The webinars offer strategies and solutions to help mitigate the impact of MA plans. Part 1 is Navigating Claims Denials and Early Termination and Part 2 is Strategies for Navigating Shorter Stays and Early Discharges. Both are free to members. 

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Upcoming CHAMPS Prior Authorization Changes (SNF)

To align with changes outlined in policy bulletin MMP 26-02, the CHAMPS Prior Authorization (PA) screens will get a new look and feel to allow for more efficient processing. However, the process of submitting a PA through CHAMPS will remain the same. The CHAMPS screens will be updated on March 21, 2026.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is also working to update provider resources to include the updated screen changes.

Here is a summary of additional changes; for complete details refer to MMP 26-02:

  • Standard PA determinations submitted on and after March 22, 2026, will be made no later than 7 calendar days after MDHHS receives a request for services. Determinations can be extended by up to 14 calendar days upon request.
  • Expedited PA determinations will be made no later than 72 hours after MDHHS receives the request.
  • An annual performance report of PA statistics will be posted on the CHAMPS PA website by March 31, 2026.

Questions? Email Provider Support or call (800) 292-2550. 

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MDHHS Nursing Facility Association Meeting (SNF)

The next Michigan Department of Health and Human Services monthly meeting to discuss Medicaid policy topics for nursing facilities is March 16 at 2 pm. If you would like to participate, please email K Kelly.

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Application Period Open for FY 2027 CMPRP Grant (SNF)

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services released the Civil Monetary Penalty Reinvestment Program (CMPRP) Grant Funding Opportunity (GFO) for fiscal year 2027. All proposal responses and materials must be submitted electronically using the EGrAMS system by April 24, 2026 at 3 pm EST. Agencies interested in applying for this GFO must first register both the agency and users and then process a Project Director Request on the EGrAMS system by April 17.

To review information about the GFO, go here. On the left, find Health and Aging Services Administration and click the hyperlink to access grant program details. Locate the hyperlink for the GFO program, CMPRP-2027-Michigan Civil Money Penalty Reinvestment Program-2027, and click to access GFO-related information, which includes funding details and a link to the Pre-Application Conference training session. At that same link, you can also click the “About EGrAMS” link for application instructions. The “Competitive Application Instructions” manual will provide detailed instructions on completing an application in the EGrAMS system. Technical assistance is available for this funding opportunity until noon on April 24 via email or by calling (517) 335-3359.

Reminder: QSO-25-26-NH has additional information on the updated CMPRP.

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VBP Reports Now Available (SNF)

The March 2026 Quarterly Confidential Feedback Reports for the fiscal year 2027 Skilled Nursing Facility Value-Based Purchasing (VBP) Program are now available to download via the Internet Quality Improvement and Evaluation System (iQIES).

The reports have consolidated summaries of each SNF’s historical measure results, performance scores and incentive payment multipliers for the SNF VBP Program for FY 2019 through FY 2026 program years. SNFs may use this information to review and monitor their performance over time. The historical information in this report is only available for reference and will not be used for future incentive payment calculations; therefore, it is not eligible for the SNF VBP Program’s Review and Correction process. 

To locate your new report in iQIES:

  1. Log into iQIES using your Health Care Quality Information Systems (HCQIS) Access Roles and Profile (HARP) user ID and password. (If you do not have a HARP account, you may register for a HARP ID.)
  2. In the Reports menu, select My Reports.
  3. From the My Reports page, locate the MDS 3.0 Provider Preview Reports folder. Select the MDS 3.0 Provider Preview Reports link to open the folder.
  4. Here you can see the list of reports available for download. Locate the desired SNF VBP Program Quarterly Confidential Feedback Report.
  5. Select More and the report will download through your browser. Once downloaded, open the file to view your facility’s report.

For additional questions? Email the iQIES Service Center or call (800) 339-9313.

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Revised PBJ Data Specifications Now Available (SNF)

A revised version of the Payroll Based Journal (PBJ) Data Specifications (Version 4.10.0) is now available. Version 4.10.0 restricts the maximum value per day per Employee ID for the item hours to 22.5.  Edit -4015 has been deleted and replaced with new edit -4025.  

The new version takes effect March 22, 2026, and providers are strongly encouraged to begin using PBJ Version 4.10.0 as soon after March 22, 2026, as possible. XML files submitted with versions other than 4.10.0 on or after April 1, 2026, will be rejected.

You can find the updated specifications and an Excel template under the Downloads section. Need assistance? Email the QIES help desk.

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Upcoming CMS CCSQ Webinar (SNF)

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Center for Clinical Standards and Quality (CCSQ) will hold a webinar on May 12 at 12pm EST.  CMS Chief Medical Officer and CCSQ Director Dr. Dora Hughes and the CCSQ leadership team will provide updates on initiatives. To attend, register here.

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HCBS Access Rule Deadlines Extended

CMS issued a new Informational Bulletin extending the enforcement date for states to comply with the grievance system requirements under the Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Access Rule. The original July 9, 2026, date is now extended to December 31, 2027. CMS notes that the extension is intended to allow additional time to support state compliance, particularly for states that have implemented or plan to implement electronic grievance systems. In addition, a December 23, 2025 Informational Bulletin delayed the enforcement date for states to establish Interested Parties Groups until January 1, 2029.

Based on recent conversations our national affiliate, the National Center for Assisted Living, has had with CMS, it is likely that we may see more changes or updates to the HCBS Access Rule soon. We will continue to monitor and provide updates.

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