The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has indefinitely suspended a requirement that skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) enrolled in Medicare or Medicare/Medicaid submit a mandatory off-cycle enrollment revalidation.

SNFs have long been required under the Social Security Act to disclose various ownership and managerial information, and while CMS has not voided the revalidation process, it has delayed it for now while technical issues are worked out for collecting more in-depth data than before, according to industry sources.

In response, John Kane, senior vice president of reimbursement policy, American Health Care Association (AHCA), said, “We appreciate CMS’s recognition of the significant challenges that providers faced throughout this unprecedented and extensive revalidation process, and we are grateful they are offering indefinite relief.”

He added that, “this protects continuity of care for our residents. Providers 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.”

Providers had pushed for more time to meet what amounted to a much more extensive list of required information under revalidation rules set during the Biden Administration. Not only does the Biden-era rule want ownership and management information, but it also requires details of any person or entity that could have a controlling interest in a skilled nursing facility’s operation, no matter the level.

The full CMS guidance is at SNF Attachment Public Subreg Guidance 120925.

Questions or comments? Contact Patrick Connole at pconnole@parkplacelive.com.