Nursing Home News 2026Jan09

Kierstin Reed • January 8, 2026

Seeking Member Input on Nursing Home Five Star Quality Rating System

LeadingAge asked the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) in a December 19 letter for a meeting to discuss the alternative approaches to calculating the Nursing Home Five Star Quality Rating System by changing how the various domains - staffing, health inspections, and quality measures — are weighted. We will be meeting with the MedPAC staff in early February to discuss our concerns with the current approaches they are considering, which include an option in which all domains are weighted equally, and a second option in which staffing is weighted more heavily than health inspections and quality measures. Learn more and read our letter to MedPAC here. LeadingAge is seeking member input on what changes, if any, should be made to Five Star. Please share your input with Jodi Eyigor. 


Nebraska Medicaid Provider Manual: The Division of Medicaid and Long-Term Care (MLTC) published the Nebraska Medicaid Provider Manual on January 6, 2026. The manual outlines Nebraska Medicaid's coverage policy as well as the requirements and procedures for health care providers participating in Nebraska Medicaid. The Manual can be found here. For a breakdown of requirements see the HCBS Blog Post. 

Here is your NATIONAL Nursing Home Weekly Recap

By Kierstin Reed January 8, 2026
ADVOCACY WIN! HUD Commits to Moving Forward with Green Funding by Mid-February
By Kierstin Reed January 8, 2026
POLICY WIN! - DEA Extends E-Prescribing Waiver
By Kierstin Reed January 8, 2026
Nebraska Medicaid Provider Manual
By Kierstin Reed January 8, 2026
LeadingAge to HHS: Revise COVID Guidelines for Healthcare Settings
By Kierstin Reed January 8, 2026
Nebraska Medicaid Provider Manual
By Kierstin Reed December 31, 2025
Measles Prevention
By Kierstin Reed December 31, 2025
Current Nursing Home Citation Trends
By Kierstin Reed December 18, 2025
Audit Documentation
By Kierstin Reed December 18, 2025
Be on the lookout!
By Kierstin Reed December 18, 2025
Nationally and here in Nebraska, the number of complaints is on the rise.
Show More