On July 31, 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule (CMS-1802-F) that finalizes updates to the fiscal year (FY) 2027 Skilled Nursing Facility Quality Reporting Program (SNF QRP) including requiring SNF’s to collect and submit through the Minimum Data Set (MDS) four new assessment items in the Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) category: one item for Living Situation, two items for Food, and one item for Utilities. CMS is also modifying the current Transportation item. Additionally, CMS is finalizing a validation process for the SNF QRP that is similar to the validation process that was adopted for the SNF Value-Based Purchasing (VBP) program in the FY 2024 SNF Prospective payment system (PPS) rule. Finally, CMS is summarizing the feedback received on the Request for Information (RFI) on quality measure concepts under consideration for future SNF QRP years. The proposed rule went on display at the Federal Register and will be available at: https://www.federalregister.gov/public-inspection.
