By Greg Seiple February 20, 2026
CMS Updates State Operations Manual: What Long-Term Care Providers Need to Know

If you've been working in skilled nursing for any length of time, you know that the State Operations Manual is an evolving rulebook. CMS often releases updates that clarify, revise, or—let's be honest—can complicate how we demonstrate compliance. The latest round of changes arrived via QSO-26-03-NH on January 30, 2026, with an effective date of March 30, 2026. These updates to Chapters 5 and 7 of the SOM don't revolutionize the survey process, but they do tighten up several critical areas that directly impact how surveyors conduct investigations and how facilities must respond to deficiencies. If you're responsible for survey readiness, regulatory compliance, or quality assurance, here's what you need to understand.

Skilled Nursing , In the Press ,
By Jill Neeley January 07, 2026
How CMS Updates Drove CAHPS Hospice Return Rates Higher in Q2 2025

The Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) Hospice Survey is a vital tool for capturing the experiences of families and caregivers with hospice care. In Q2 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) implemented several key changes to the survey process. This blog analyzes the impact of these changes, using specific return rate data to show how each intervention contributed to a significant increase in survey participation.

Hospice
By Chris Attaya December 11, 2025
Making the Cut with SHP: Strategies for Home Health Success in 2026

The CY 2026 Home Health Final Rule is official—and the news is better than expected. CMS reduced the proposed -6.4% cut to -1.3%, returning $915 million to the industry. But with inflation and rising wages, margins are still tight. Agencies that thrive in 2026 will be the ones using data to protect their bottom line.

Home Health
By Greg Seiple December 10, 2025
From Compliance to Excellence: How Strategic Management of Staffing Data Drives Both Star Ratings and Patient Outcomes

For too long, skilled nursing facilities have viewed Payroll-Based Journal (PBJ) reporting as a quarterly regulatory checkbox—a necessary burden to satisfy CMS requirements and avoid penalties. But forward-thinking facilities are discovering something remarkable: when approached strategically, the management of staffing data becomes one of the most powerful tools for operational excellence, quality improvement, and competitive positioning.

Skilled Nursing
By Greg Seiple November 03, 2025
TEAM Model for SNFs: A Practical Guide

Starting January 2026, Medicare is testing a new payment approach called TEAM (Transforming Episode Accountability Model) in about 741 hospitals across roughly 188 geographic areas. This five-year test program represents a significant shift in how hospitals and their post-acute care partners will approach surgical patient care.

Skilled Nursing , In the Press ,
October 06, 2025
All Three Gold AHCA Quality Award Winners are SHP Clients

The 2025 AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Program recipients have been announced and we are thrilled to share an unprecedented milestone: For the first time ever, all three Gold – Excellence in Quality Award winners are SHP clients! Among the 182 total award recipients this year, SHP clients demonstrated exceptional commitment to quality care, earning recognition across all award levels. This historic achievement underscores our position as the partner of choice for organizations pursuing excellence in long-term and post-acute care.

Skilled Nursing , In the Press ,
By Chris Attaya August 06, 2025
CMS Proposes Significant Changes for Home Health in CY 2026 Rule

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released the CY 2026 Home Health proposed rule on June 30, 2025, introducing some major changes that Home Health Agencies (HHAs) are now reviewing and preparing to comment on. This rule proposes the largest payment cut since the Home Health Agency Prospective Payment System (HHA PPS) began in CY 2000. CMS is suggesting a reimbursement cut of 6.4%, or $1.135 billion.

Home Health , In the Press ,
July 18, 2025
SHP Announces 2024 Best-of-the-Best Winners

The annual SHPBest™ award program was created to recognize home health and hospice providers that consistently provide outstanding performance in patient and caregiver satisfaction. SHP would like to congratulate the 2024 SHP Best-of-the-Best winners, who have been acknowledged for achieving the highest overall HHCAHPS patient satisfaction or CAHPS Hospice caregiver satisfaction scores of all eligible SHP clients during the 2024 calendar year.

Home Health , Hospice , Company News ,
By Greg Seiple July 15, 2025
A New Chapter in Nursing Home Ratings: Navigating CMS’s 2025 Changes with SHP

Big changes are coming to the way nursing homes are rated, and if you're part of the industry, it’s vital to prepare now. Starting in July 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is implementing updates to the Five-Star Quality Rating System to make ratings more accurate, transparent, and reflective of current performance. These changes are detailed in the QSO-25-20-NH memorandum, marking a significant shift for skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) across the country. Beyond understanding these updates, facilities must adapt quickly to maintain and improve their ratings—and that’s where Strategic Healthcare Programs (SHP) can help.

Skilled Nursing , In the Press ,
June 23, 2025
Putting Hope Into the New HOPE Assessment Tool

Hospices will be required to implement the new Hospice Outcomes and Patient Evaluation (HOPE) assessment tool on October 1, 2025. HOPE will take the place of the current Hospice Item Set (HIS) assessment tool utilized today. So, what does that mean for Hospices today? Over all there are new assessment timepoints that must be completed, along with new data elements, but questions remain regarding submissions of the assessments.

Hospice