Nursing Home News 2026June26

Federal Monitoring Surveys for FY 2026

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will be making adjustments to the number of Federal Monitoring Surveys being completed in FY 2026 as a result of the government shutdown at the beginning of the fiscal year during which surveys were not authorized. CMS is statutorily required to complete federal monitoring surveys in “at least 5% of the number of skilled nursing facilities surveyed by the state in the year, but in no case less than 5 skilled nursing facilities in the state.” CMS will continue to meet these requirements but is adjusting the basis for calculating the required number of surveys in each state. Fewer federal monitoring surveys will be conducted in FY 2026; however, at least 5 nursing homes in each state will be surveyed. Federal monitoring surveys will include both Resource and Support Surveys (RSS) and Health Comparative surveys. Life Safety Code / Emergency Preparedness federal monitoring surveys will additionally include desk audits. The CMS location will work with the state agency to identify nursing homes for surveys and will be focusing on nursing homes that provide good training opportunities. Priorities include those at risk for noncompliance, those with a history of noncompliance, those with allegations of noncompliance, CMS-specific concerns, and media attention. Health surveys will breakdown to 60% of federal monitoring surveys being conducted on complaint surveys and 40% being conducted on standard recertification surveys. For Life Safety Code / Emergency Preparedness, surveys will be split between 80% of surveys being completed on recertification surveys and 20% being completed on revisits. Recall that while the purpose of the federal monitoring survey is to evaluate state agency performance, federal surveyors may cite noncompliance and may impose enforcement remedies in comparative surveys, including suspension of the nurse aide training and competence evaluation program (NATCEP). More information, including actual numbers of surveys per state, can be found in CMS Administrative Information Memo 26-06-NH.

Stability in Social Services

How prepared are you for social services turnover? Regulations require that nursing homes under 120 beds have someone meeting the criteria as their Social Services Designee. Nebraska allows those in this position to meet the criteria by taking a course of at least 35 hours in the skills needed. We have you covered! Sign up a team member today for our in-person course taking place August 3-7. 

Our week-long Social Services Designee Training is designed specifically for professionals like you, providing the knowledge, confidence, and practical tools needed to succeed in this essential position. Whether you’re new to the role or looking to strengthen your expertise, this course offers a comprehensive foundation to help you navigate the unique challenges of serving residents in a long-term care setting.

Throughout the training, you’ll gain a clear understanding of your roles and responsibilities as a Social Services Director, learn how to effectively collaborate with your interdisciplinary team, and build skills in developing and implementing meaningful, person-centered care plans. We’ll also dive into strategies for addressing residents’ emotional, psychological, and social needs, while helping you confidently interpret and apply state and federal regulations. Designed for facilities under 120 beds, this course meets required training standards and equips you to make a lasting impact for both your residents and your organization.

Just Released! Nursing Home Survey Trends and Tools Webinar

Join us for a deep dive into current survey trends happening in Nursing Home services in Nebraska and opportunities members have to review data. We will review the state trends and look at ways to improve on practices that are negatively impacting providers in the state. CEO, Kierstin Reed will review the top 5 citations for Nursing Homes in Nebraska and provide insight into the cause and potential solutions to these areas.

We will also take a look at the LeadingAge Quality Metrics tools and the trend reports that are available to all LeadingAge Nebraska members, in addition to your 5 Star Analysis Report. The LeadingAge Quality Metrics system contains three tools, Nursing Home Quality Metrics, which analyzes quality metrics such as 5-star ratings, staffing, quality measures, and deficiencies in skilled nursing facilities using the most current publicly reported Nursing Home Compare data; and Home Health Quality Metrics, which analyzes quality metrics in categories such as Managing Daily Activities, Managing Pain and Treating Symptoms, Treating Wounds and Preventing Pressure Sores, Preventing Harm, Preventing Unplanned Hospital Care and Patient Satisfaction Survey results using the most current publicly reported Home Health Compare data and Hospice Quality Metrics, which studies quality measures in categories such as family experience of care and quality of patient care using the most current publicly reported Hospice Compare data.

Join us to learn what is happening in Nebraska survey and how to utilize these tools to benchmark your services and improve performance.

PBJ System Transitioning to iQIES in August:

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced on June 12, that the Payroll-Based Journal (PBJ) system will transition to internet Quality Improvement and Evaluation System (iQIES) on August 17, 2026. The PBJ system is the only system remaining in the previous QIES system while all other programs have transitioned to iQIES. iQIES is a secure, cloud-based system that CMS uses to collect and manage quality and compliance information. Effective on August 17, 2026, long-term care providers must submit all PBJ staffing data in iQIES. 

CMS will provide additional information before the launch through various email notifications regarding onboarding, training, details on what to expect, and more. Until then, please ensure that you complete the following (if you haven’t done so already): 

1. Create a HCQIS Access Roles and Profile System (HARP) account.  Skip this step if you already have a HARP account. If you don’t have an account register here. 
2. Request access to iQIES – submit your request early so your access is ready before launch. Although you may request your PBJ role before August 17 (CMS strongly recommends you do so), PBJ functionality will not be available before August 17, 2026. 
3. Choose the correct PBJ role within iQIES –

• Provider Security Official (PSO) – Can view, upload, edit PBJ data and run PBJ reports. This role also approves user access. 
• PBJ Submitter (Provider or Vendor): Can view, upload, edit PBJ data and run PBJ reports. 
• Provider Administrator: View – only access and run PBJ reports.
• PBJ Viewer: View-only access and run PBJ reports. 
• Additional information on roles can be found in the iQIES Onboarding Process – Provider User Roles Manual posted on the iQIES Reference and Manuals on the QTSO under iQIES Onboarding Guides. 

  4.  Get approval from your facility’s PSO – Your access will not become active until they approve it.               Each facility must have at least one PSO to manage access for additional users. 

Once you register for an iQIES account, be sure to log in regularly. If you don’t log in for 60 days, you’ll lose access to iQIES. Additional information on the iQIES Inactive User Policy can be found on QTSO. 

 Vendors must request access for each facility they represent and get approval from a PSO at each facility, using the facility’s CMS Certification Number (CCN). 

Policy questions should be emailed to nhstaffing@cms.hhs.gov 

Technical questions: Contact the iQIES Service Center at 800.339.9313 Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. ET (7 a.m. – 7 p.m. CT) You may also request assistance via secure chat or schedule a call through CCSQ Support Central. Please note that Chat Support is currently limited to 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. CT Monday – Friday. 

Here is your NATIONAL Nursing Home Weekly Recap