SFF Selection Process Update Announced in QSO-23-01-NH
On January 28, 2026, CMS released QSO-23-01-NH, which is effective immediately, citing their commitment to protecting nursing home residents in the poorest performing nursing homes. This memo includes the plan to revise the focus area for selection to emphasize the prevalence of falls among the resident population when considering SFF designation. This is the first change to the SFF selection process since 2022 when CMS aimed its focus on facilities’ staffing levels data.
CMS has informed State Agencies (SAs) to consider the facility’s prevalence of falls when selecting facilities to move from the SFF candidate list to the actual SFF list. This action is not entirely surprising as CMS indicates this change is following an Office of Inspector General’s (OIG) Report, which highlighted the seriousness of nursing home resident falls and the importance of improving fall safety. As noted in a recent BNN article recording, when the OIG notices something, CMS and subsequently providers feel the impact.
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