The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) informed nursing homes that this is their last chance to go paperless before the agency eliminates paper fee coupons and CLIA (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments) certificates.

“After March 1, 2026, paper fee coupons and CLIA certificates will no longer be available. In addition, laboratories must pay their CLIA certification and survey fees online [checks will no longer be accepted], CMS said.

This transition is not optional. Laboratories must sign up for CMS email notifications to receive electronic CLIA fee coupons and certificates. Failure to go paperless may result in billing and certification issues.

CMS said help with the issue is available here State Agency.

Download this link toolkit, which provides ready-to-use messaging for your outreach to laboratories and providers.

With the switch to paperless, nursing facilities will get email notifications from CMS, electronic fee coupons, and quicker returns on CLIA certificates. The electronic fee coupons option does not apply to CLIA-exempt states or state licensure.

To switch, a provider must give written notification to a State Agency by email. Include the facility name, director or owner’s name, CLIA number, and director or designee’s signature.  

The other option is to fill out the CMS-116 application form and check the box, “Receive notifications including electronic certificates via email.”  

On a separate matter, nursing facilities can now access a revised version of the PBJ Data Specifications. Version 4.10.0 has a restriction on the maximum value per day per Employee ID for the item hours to be 22.5. Edit -4015 has been deleted and replaced with edit -4025.

CMS said providers should start using the new version by April 1. XML files submitted with other versions will be rejected.

Providers can find the updated specifications and an Excel template here Downloads section.

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