CMS Halts Mandatory Medicare Reporting for Skilled Nursing Facilities

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has temporarily halted the enforcement of the mandatory Medicare reporting requirement for skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), which was initially slated for January 1, 2026. This pause impacts the off-cycle revalidation deadline for providers, with CMS promising further updates on a new compliance timeline. Industry experts see this as a step to alleviate administrative burdens on providers while CMS resolves operational issues with the provider enrollment system, PECOS, and develops comprehensive guidance for future compliance.

Providers engaged in the reporting process must remain responsive to ongoing requests for additional information within specified deadlines, as CMS maintains its foundational reporting obligations. CMS originally required SNFs to utilize the new "Attachment 1" of Form CMS-855A starting October 1, 2024, to collect enhanced disclosure data during off-cycle revalidations. However, with successive deadline extensions, the compliance target is now set for early 2026. It is crucial for providers and all involved in the industry to stay updated on CMS directives to ensure regulatory compliance requirements are met.