Less than ten days after LeadingAge sent a letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) requesting a delay in the effective date of the revisions to State Operations Manual, Appendix PP Guidance to Surveyors for Long-Term Care Facilities, CMS revised QSO-25-14-NH announcing a delay in the effective date to April 28, 2025.

Our February 26 correspondence cited the current regulatory freeze and the ongoing pause on external communications from the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) and its agencies, including CMS, which significantly impairs nursing homes’ ability to interpret and implement this new guidance.

We will continue advocacy to resume communications and allow CMS to provide the clarification nursing homes need prior to implementation of this guidance.