The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) notified providers that the SNF Data Validation Process for the Skilled Nursing Facility Value-Based Purchasing (SNF VBP) and Quality Reporting (SNF QRP) programs will start in January 2026. This is a delay from the original timeline, which was previously set to begin this past fall.
Those facilities who are initially selected will begin to receive their notification letters in iQIES in mid-January and then continuing on a rolling basis thereafter.
- Selected SNFs will be notified through their iQIES MDS 3.0 Provider Preview Report folder. The initial selection notification that will be uploaded to a selected SNFs iQIES 3.0 MDS Provider Previews Report folder will be titled Skilled Nursing Facility Data Validation Process - Initial Selection Notification. SNFs selected for the data validation process will be notified through their Internet Quality Improvement and Evaluation System (iQIES) Provider folder only.
- SNFs are encouraged to begin checking their iQIES folders weekly starting in January 2026.
- Selected SNFs are required to submit requested medical chart documentation to support validation of 10 MDS assessment records.
- Any selected SNF that fails to submit requested medical chart documentation within 45 calendar days of the audit notification will be considered noncompliant, resulting in the SNF losing 2% of Medicare reimbursement for the applicable fiscal year.
- SNFs may file for reconsideration if they believe the finding of noncompliance is in error through that process. Please keep in mind that the FY2025 data validation process is only penalizing SNFs for not submitting requested documentation within 45 days of the selection notification.
CMS has a
webpage where additional information is available, including resource materials. This includes a
Frequently Asked Questions document providing comprehensive information about the program.
If after reviewing the available resources, you are still seeking additional information, you may contact the SNF Validation Help Desk at
snfvalidation@hcmsllc.com.