The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) provided notification of updates to the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Value-Based Purchasing (VBP) Program performance standards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026. Due to the FY 2024 transition from Section G to Section GG on the Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessment, case-mix adjustment methodology for the Total Nurse Staffing measure was updated for data submissions beginning with FY 2024.

To ensure performance period results remain consistent and are not overly impacted by this change, CMS is updating performance standards for the FY 2026 SNF VBP program year. These changes will not impact the FY 2025 SNF VBP Program and no further action is required by providers.