Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Quality Reporting Program (QRP) Data Submission Deadlines

How are data collected and submitted for the SNF QRP?

Data for the SNF QRP are collected using four methods:

• Minimum Data Set (MDS)
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN)
• Medicare fee-for-services claims
• Data Validation Process
• Guidance on how to run and interpret National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) output reports
• Checklist to ensure complete reporting into NHSN

When does SNF quality data have to be submitted?

SNFs must report data to meet the SNF QRP requirements.  The timelines for submitted data depends on the type of data submitted.

SNFs must submit MDS and NHSN data no later than 11:59 p.m. the day of the submission deadline. The MDS 3.0 must be transmitted to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) via the Internet Quality Improvement Evaluation System (iQIES). Data for the NHSN measures must be submitted to the CDC. No additional data submission is required for the claims-based measures.

The MDS and NHSN data collection and submission deadlines for each Annual Payment Update (APU) determination year are summarized in the tables available in the Downloads section on this webpage.

The FY 2025 SNF PPS Final Rule (89 FR 64118 through 64122) adopted a new data submission requirement for SNFs. Beginning with the fiscal year (FY) 2027 SNF QRP, SNFs that participate in the SNF QRP will be required to participate in a validation process for assessment-based measures.  Specifically, up to 1,500 SNFs will be selected annually to participate in the SNF QRP data validation process.  Each selected SNF will be requested to submit up to 10 medical records, and would only be required to submit records once in a fiscal year, for a maximum of 10 records for each SNF selected.  SNFs will have the option to submit digital or paper copies of the requested medical records to the validation contractor and will be required to submit the medical records within 45 days of the date of the request (as documented on the request).

CMS strongly encourages all facilities to submit data several days prior to the deadline to allow time to address any submission issues and to provide opportunity to review submissions to ensure data are complete.

NHSN

Visit the CMS Resources for NHSN Users webpage for:

Visit the CMS Quality Reporting Programs Frequently Asked Questions webpage for additional information.

Please contact the NHSN Helpdesk at NHSN@cdc.gov if you have any questions.

Resources:

• FAQs addressing general questions about the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Quality Reporting Program (QRP), including information about the quality measures, data submission deadlines, training materials, and other helpful resources.
• For questions about the SNF QRP, data reporting, quality measure calculation, data submission deadlines, or any other questions related to the SNF QRP email SNFQualityQuestions@cms.hhs.gov
• For questions about SNF quality data submitted to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) via the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN), or NHSN Registration, email NHSN@cdc.gov.
• For questions about Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 coding, please contact your State Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) Coordinator. Contact information for State RAI Coordinators can be found in Appendix B of the Long-Term Care Facility RAI 3.0 User’s Manual on CMS’s MDS 3.0 RAI Manual webpage under the Downloads section (file name: Appendix B 10252022 [PDF]).
• For questions about MDS data submissions or status of data submissions via the Internet Quality Improvement Evaluation System (iQIES), call 1-800-339-9313 or email iqies@cms.hhs.gov.
• References and manuals related to the submission of MDS data can be found on the QIES Technical Support Office (QTSO) Nursing Home (MDS)/Swing Bed Providers Reference & Manuals webpage. For questions about quality measure calculation, data submission deadlines, or coding data elements in the MDS, email SNFQualityQuestions@cms.hhs.gov.
• Subscribe to the Post-Acute Care (PAC) QRP listserv for the latest SNF quality reporting and Improving Medicare Post-Acute Care Transformation (IMPACT) Act information including, but not limited to, training, stakeholder engagement opportunities, and general updates about reporting requirements, quality measures, and reporting deadlines.

Updates

September 3, 2024

SNF QRP Data Collection and Final Submission Deadlines for FY 2027

The Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Quality Reporting Program (QRP) Data Collection and Final Submission Deadlines for the FY 2027 SNF QRP have been updated to provide the data collection time frames and final submission deadlines for the FY 2027 SNF QRP. The FY 2027 Data Collection and Final Submission Deadlines are now available in the Downloads section of this webpage.

SNF Quality Reporting Program Archives