In a new memo to state survey agency directors from the Quality, Safety & Oversight Group and Survey & Operations Group at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the agency said it would reduce by 10 percent the number of Federal Monitoring Surveys (FMS) it performs in Fiscal Year (FY) 2026.

Long Term Care (LTC) FMSs -- referred to in the statute as “validation surveys” -- must be performed by each CMS location during each FY to meet the statutory requirement of the Social Security Act (SSA).

CMS said the SSA requires FMSs of “…at least 5 percent 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” including Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C.

“For FY 2026, CMS is adjusting the basis for calculating the required number of LTC FMS for Health and EP/LSC by approximately 10 percent in recognition of the federal government shutdown that occurred from Oct. 1, 2025, through Nov. 12, 2025, which created delays in federal surveyors being able to travel to conduct the required number of surveys,” the agency said.

Still, while this adjustment will result in a reduction in the total number of FMSs conducted on skilled nursing facilities surveyed by states during the year, CMS said it will continue to meet the statutory requirement under SSA. “Specifically, in no case will fewer than five skilled nursing facilities be surveyed in any State, including Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C.,” CMS said.

Read the memo here.

Comments or questions? Contact Patrick Connole at pconnole@parkplacelive.com.