The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is again postponing skilled nursing facilities\u2019 mandatory off-cycle revalidation deadline \u2014 this time indefinitely, according to sources.<\/p>\n
This is the fourth postponement of a deadline for nursing home owners to provide newly expanded, complicated ownership and business relationship information.<\/p>\n
CMS is expected to formally file notice at any time that the Jan. 1, 2026, deadline will no longer be observed. CMS had not responded to McKnight\u2019s Long-Term Care News\u2019 requests for comment Tuesday before publication deadline.<\/p>\n
On Thursday, American Health Care Association state affiliates received a memo stating that the federal agency had informed it that the deadline is being \u201csuspended indefinitely.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAHCA has been regularly advocating to CMS about this deadline, and we appreciate the agency granting our request for relief given the many difficulties providers have faced recently and throughout the process,\u201d some state chapters reposted online this week.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Unlike the federal nursing home staffing mandate that was repealed last week, however, sources emphasized Tuesday that the ownership transparency demands remain official policy. They said software and \u201clogistical\u201d concerns were credited with forcing the delay.<\/p>\n
\u201cProviders around the country need to be mindful of eventually having to comply with these rules, even if they\u2019re indefinitely suspended,\u201d one state executive told McKnight\u2019s. \u201cThe underlying issue of transparency in ownership is ultimately not going away.\u201d<\/p>\n
Medicare participation at stake<\/p>\n
Under new demands set forth by the Biden administration, every federally funded nursing facility must list more data and ownership and management details than previously required. This includes naming any person or entity that could have a controlling interest in a nursing home\u2019s operations \u2014 down to the vendor and volunteer levels.<\/p>\n
Providers that do not submit complete information in CMS Form 885A \u2014 or fail to do so at all \u2014 risk having their Medicare certification suspended or revoked.<\/p>\n
\u201cOver the past several weeks, hundreds of AHCA members reported new, serious technical problems with the CMS PECOS provider enrollment system,\u201d the association explained in its memo. As a result, the group said it requested a suspension of the requirements, which CMS has reportedly agreed to.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe voiced concerns about the additional burdens impacted providers are facing, and the significant risk of payment suspensions should they not meet the reporting deadline due to these systems issues,\u201d AHCA said in its Dec. 4 memo to state leaders. It added that providers should expect a CMS announcement with elaboration \u201cin the next few days.\u201d<\/p>\n
Skilled nursing operators that have already sent in provider enrollment Form CMS-855A information via PECOS or paper submission and received a request for more information to be submitted by a certain date should still submit that requested information by the specified due date, AHCA noted.<\/p>\n
Medicare Administrative Contractor helpdesks should be consulted about any system problems that could endanger submissions by the requested deadline.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is important to remember that the underlying SNF provider enrollment reporting policies have not changed,\u201d AHCA told members. \u201cEvery effort should be taken to assure the needed data elements regarding ownership and operational and managerial control disclosable entities and individuals are available to submit once further CMS guidance is issued.\u201d<\/p>\n
John Kane, AHCA\u2019s Senior Vice President of Reimbursement Policy, said the postponement is in the best interest of patients and providers.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe appreciate CMS\u2019s recognition of the significant challenges that providers faced throughout this unprecedented and extensive revalidation process, and we are grateful they are offering indefinite relief. Ultimately, this protects continuity of care for our residents,\u201d he said in a statement to McKnight\u2019s Long-Term Care News. \u201cProviders remain committed to transparency around ownership and adhering to reporting requirements, but we must ensure that we put patients over paperwork. We look forward to continuing to work with CMS on ways we can streamline reporting and focus on the information that is meaningful to residents, families, and stakeholders.\u201d<\/p>\n