Skilled Nursing Prepares for 2026 Compliance and Quality

Skilled Nursing Prepares for 2026 Compliance and Quality

Next year is bringing major changes to the regulatory landscape for skilled nursing. Initiatives such as new payment rules and coding updates have come under increased scrutiny. Providers are being urged to enforce strong, facility-wide quality and compliance programs to stay ahead.

Heather Haberhern, Senior VP at Health Dimensions Group, emphasizes the importance of engaging frontline staff: "I’m getting the feedback from the frontline staff of what we can do differently… really work on building that robust QAPI plan so you are having the conversations identifying your root cause analysis and making meaningful change within your communities."

Building a robust QAPI program, reviewing claims and documentation, and ensuring staff understand compliance measures can help skilled nursing providers navigate 2026’s shifting regulatory environment while maintaining high-quality care.

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Connie Pollke