CMS Paperwork Plans Open for Public Yawns by April
Published Date: 2/13/2026
Notice
Summary
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) wants your thoughts on their plan to collect info from the public. This helps make sure the paperwork isn’t too much and is useful. If you have ideas or concerns, send them by April 14, 2026—this keeps things fair and clear for everyone involved.
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 3 costs, 0 mixed.
Payment Reductions for Non-Reporting Providers
Any Hospice, Home Health Agency, Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility, Long-Term Acute Care Hospital, or Skilled Nursing Facility that does not meet its program's reporting requirements may be subject to a payment reduction in its annual payment update (APU). This links compliance with reporting to possible reductions in future payments to the provider.
New CMS Data Collection for Quality Programs
CMS is requesting a new OMB control number (Form CMS-10945, OMB 0938-NEW) to collect information for Administrative Procedures for Chronic and Post-Acute Care Quality Programs. The request says the collection is annual, lists 33,340 respondents, 72 total annual responses, and 18 total annual hours, and public comments are due April 14, 2026.
SNFs Required to Do MDS Data Validation
Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs) participating in the SNF Quality Reporting Program (QRP) and Value-Based Purchasing (VBP) Program are required to participate in a Minimum Data Set (MDS) data validation process. This is listed as a required part of SNF participation in those programs.
Some Quality Measures Use Existing Data
CMS states that quality measures calculated from claims and from staffing data (Payroll-based Journal under ACA section 6106) use existing data reported for payment purposes and require no additional burden from providers. Claims-based measures and staffing measures are described as not imposing extra reporting.
Quality Data Made Available to Medicare Consumers
CMS says the information collected for Quality Reporting Programs and Value-Based Purchasing will be made available to consumers to empower Medicare beneficiaries and inform decision-making. This is intended to help Medicare beneficiaries compare provider quality.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) wants your thoughts on their plan to keep collecting important info from the public. If you or your group deal with Medicare or Medicaid, this affects you! You’ve got until March 16, 2026, to share your ideas on how to make this process easier and better, with no new costs announced.