On July 29, 2026, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule for updates to Medicare payment policies and rates for skilled nursing facilities under the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Prospective Payment System (PPS) for fiscal year (FY) 2027. CMS is publishing this final rule consistent with the legal requirements to update Medicare payment policies for SNFs annually. This fact sheet discusses the final rule’s provisions.

FY 2027 Final Updates to the SNF Payment Rates

For FY 2027, CMS finalized updating SNF PPS rates by 2.4% based on the final SNF market basket of 3.3%, reduced by a 0.9% productivity adjustment, for an estimated increase of $882.74 million in aggregate payments to SNFs. 

FY 2027 Final Updates to the SNF Quality Reporting Program

Measure Removal. CMS is finalizing the removal of two measures from the SNF Quality Reporting Program (QRP), beginning with the FY 2028 SNF QRP: (1) the COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage Among Healthcare Personnel measure, and (2) the COVID-19 Vaccine: Percent of Patients/Residents Who Are Up to Date measure.

Data Submission Deadline. CMS is finalizing the revised data submission timeframe from 4.5 months to approximately 45 days, beginning with the FY 2029 SNF QRP. This shortened timeframe will reduce the lag between data submission and public reporting by up to three months, resulting in timelier data for consumers and their families. SNFs will also have earlier access to data to support their quality initiatives.

Minimum Data Set (MDS) Data Submission. To obtain the most accurate SNF quality of care information and to remain relevant to the SNF community and consumers, CMS is finalizing a requirement for all SNFs to submit MDS data for all SNF residents receiving covered skilled care, regardless of payer. This will align the SNF QRP with other Post-Acute Care settings and CMS programs that already collect data on all patients regardless of payer.

FY 2027 SNF QRP Request for Information

CMS received comments on one potential measure topic that might be adopted in future years for the SNF QRP: advanced care planning (ACP). ACP is a continuous process of conversation and documentation to align a patient’s care and interventions with their beliefs, values, and preferences if they become unable to make those decisions. CMS provides a summary of comments received in the FY 2027 SNF PPS final rule.

FY 2027 Final Updates to the SNF Value-Based Purchasing Program

For the SNF Value-Based Purchasing (VBP) Program, CMS finalized performance standards for the FY 2029 and FY 2030 program years to comply with the program’s statutory notice deadline. CMS will update the “snapshot date” codified at 42 CFR § 413.338(f)(1)(v) for two measures calculated using MDS assessment data to maintain alignment with the newly finalized SNF QRP submission deadlines for MDS assessment data, beginning with FY 2027 data. The SNF VBP adjustments for certain SNFs subject to the net reduction in payments under the SNF VBP and which are not incorporated into the impact estimates for the payment rate are an estimated $203.60 million reduction in FY 2027.

Request for Information on Updating the Patient Driven Payment Model Payment System to Address Case-Mix Upcoding 

This Request for Information (RFI) focused on potential updates to the Patient Driven Payment Model payment system as part of a broader effort to ensure that payment policy reflects current care practices and changes in the SNF resident population. The RFI also focused on how CMS could address observed case-mix upcoding. CMS will take the comments received under advisement in any potential proposed adjustments in future rulemaking.

The SNF Prospective Payment System Final Rule can be viewed on the Federal Register at: https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2026-15562



July 30, 2026 – Naples Comprehensive Health (NCH) has launched a new Pelvic Health Program through Outpatient Rehabilitation Services, expanding access to specialized rehabilitation care for women and men experiencing pelvic floor dysfunction, pelvic pain, bladder leakage, postpartum recovery challenges and other conditions.

Pelvic floor dysfunction affects millions of people across the lifespan, yet many individuals delay seeking treatment because they believe their symptoms are a normal part of aging, childbirth or recovery from surgery. Specialized pelvic floor therapy can help improve strength, coordination and function of the muscles that support the bladder, bowel and pelvic organs, restoring confidence and helping patients return to the activities they enjoy.

“Many patients live with symptoms for years without realizing specialized therapy may help improve their condition,” said Betsy Brothers, MD, Chief Medical Officer for Women’s Services at NCH. “This program is designed to provide compassionate, personalized care that helps patients restore confidence, improve function and return to the activities they enjoy.”

The program is led by Kristen Parisi, PT, DPT, PRPC, a pelvic health physical therapist with advanced specialty training and Pelvic Rehabilitation Practitioner Certification (PRPC). She specializes in evaluating and treating pelvic floor conditions affecting both women and men, including urinary incontinence, urinary urgency and frequency, bowel dysfunction, constipation, pelvic and abdominal pain, pregnancy and postpartum recovery, cancer rehabilitation, pelvic health concerns associated with menopause and orthopedic or movement-related conditions that may contribute to pelvic floor dysfunction.

“Pelvic floor dysfunction is common, but it is not something people simply have to live with,” said Kristen Parisi, PT, DPT, PRPC, Pelvic Health Physical Therapist at NCH Outpatient Rehabilitation Services. “Every patient has a unique story and unique goals. Our role is to identify the underlying causes of their symptoms and develop an individualized treatment plan that helps reduce pain, restore function and improve confidence in everyday life.”

The NCH Pelvic Floor Therapy Program offers one-on-one evaluations and individualized treatment plans tailored to each patient’s needs and goals. Treatment approaches may include therapeutic exercise, manual therapy, movement retraining, breathing and core coordination, posture education and lifestyle strategies.

Because the pelvic floor is an essential part of the body’s core support system, the program also addresses orthopedic and movement-related conditions that may contribute to pelvic floor dysfunction. Therapy may benefit individuals experiencing hip, groin or lower back pain associated with pelvic floor dysfunction while helping improve movement mechanics, core stability and overall function.

The program supports patients across multiple stages of life and recovery, including pregnancy and postpartum rehabilitation, perimenopausal and menopausal care, post-surgical pelvic rehabilitation, men’s pelvic health concerns, pelvic pain management, continence support and more.

Unlike some pelvic floor therapy programs that operate on a self-pay basis, eligible services provided through NCH Outpatient Rehabilitation Services may be covered by insurance depending on a patient’s individual health plan and qualifications.

The service is part of NCH Outpatient Rehabilitation Services and reflects the organization’s continued investment in expanding specialized care offerings for Southwest Florida residents. For more information or to schedule an evaluation, call 239-624-0970.

About NCH
Naples Comprehensive Health (NCH) is an advanced community healthcare system serving Southwest Florida with premier routine, critical, and specialty care. A locally governed nonprofit, NCH has been recognized among America’s Top 50 hospitals which puts it in the top 1% in the nation for clinical excellence. It was also named a Top 50 Cardiovascular Hospital by Modern Healthcare. The system includes NCH Baker Hospital and NCH North Hospital, with more than 700 beds and more than 750 physicians, along with medical facilities in dozens of locations throughout Southwest Florida. NCH is the region’s only Joint Commission-accredited Comprehensive Stroke Center, and its cardiac care program ranks among the top three in the state. NCH collaborates with the Hospital for Special Surgery for orthopedics, Northwestern Medicine for oncology, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital for pediatrics, and ProScan Imaging for radiology services, ensuring top-tier medical care is available locally. With the largest provider network, urgent and immediate care centers, diagnostic facilities, and two hospitals, NCH continues to advance the quality of care close to home. For more information, visit nchmd.org.



TBC Corporation joins the American Heart Association in engaging companies in Palm Beach County to create a Community of Lifesavers

July 2026 — According to the American Heart Association, 9 in 10 people who suffer cardiac arrest outside of the hospital die, and more than half don’t receive bystander CPR. CPR — especially if performed immediately — can double or triple a person’s chance of survival. In a collective effort led by Chief People Officer Megan Filoon, Chief Revenue Officer Bill Schafer, and Chief Financial Officer Marilyn Spunar, TBC Corporation is supporting the American Heart Association’s mission to be a relentless force changing the future of health for everyone everywhere by serving as the 2026 Palm Beach Heart Walk chairs.

TBC has been supporting the Heart Association since 2016, and now, as Heart Walk chairs, Filoon, Schafer, and Spunar will lead a year-round effort to rally companies and community members to raise critical funds and expand CPR education. “Heart Walk reminds us that prioritizing healthy employees isn’t optional—it’s essential,” Filoon said. “When people feel 100%, when they feel supported by their employer and connected to their coworkers, then they show up stronger at work and in life.”

Heart Walk is the largest community-facing initiative of the American Heart Association. Through fundraising, community education and corporate engagement, Heart Walk aims to fund vital research, drive equitable health for all and make CPR education and training more accessible.

“We are all “the help” until help arrives,” Schafer said. “There is still this idea that CPR is something only trained medical professionals do. But it’s not: it’s something anyone can do, and knowing CPR means anyone can be a lifesaver.”

For Spunar, Heart Walk is also deeply personal thanks to a history of heart disease in her family. “Having a personal connection to something makes it real,” she said. “It’s no longer an abstract thing happening to someone else. And that makes you want to take action – and encourage other survivors to take action as well. That’s how real change happens.”

This year also marks TBC’s 70th anniversary, and as part of this milestone, the company says it is honored to deepen its commitment to supporting the heart health in the community that has supported it for so many years.

“Having not just one but three members of our business community commit to making our area safer, stronger, and healthier is truly exciting,” said Stacey Comerford, Executive Director for the Heart Association in Palm Beach County. “We’re looking forward to seeing incredible results from this year’s Heart Walk campaign and hope the community will join us in making it a success.”

The Heart Association is a global leader in resuscitation science, education and training, and the official publisher of CPR guidelines. Through the Nation of Lifesavers™ movement, the Association is working to ensure that more people are ready to perform CPR and be a vital link in the chain of survival, supporting its goal of doubling the survival rate from out-of-hospital cardiac arrests by 2030.

The Palm Beach County Heart Walk will take place this year on Saturday, November 14, at the Meyer Amphitheater in West Palm Beach. An estimated 8,000 participants are expected to walk in celebration of local survivors and the lifesaving progress made across the Palm Beaches and Treasure Coast. Companies interested in participating can contact local Heart Walk Director Jessie Brooks at Jessie.brooks@heart.org. Learn more and register at http://www.palmbeachheartwalk.org.

About the American Heart Association

The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities, the organization has been a leading source of health information for more than one hundred years. Supported by more than 35 million volunteers globally, we fund groundbreaking research, advocate for the public’s health and provide critical resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke. By driving breakthroughs and implementing proven solutions in science, policy, and care, we work tirelessly to advance health and transform lives every day. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.



The American Red Cross July 27 declared a national blood supply crisis, as the organization said that blood donations have fallen to a four-year summer low. The organization said that it has less than a one-day national supply of type O positive blood and is limiting distribution of type O blood to hospitals. This year is the second time in its history that the Red Cross declared a national blood crisis, the first since January 2022.

An AHA Member Advisory released July 28 includes a call to action and resources regarding a July 24 statement from the Association for the Advancement of Blood and Biotherapies’ Interorganizational Task Force on Domestic Disasters and Acts of Terrorism regarding the U.S. blood supply. The task force urged eligible donors to make and keep an appointment to donate blood as soon as possible. The Advisory includes links for AHA members to share to help eligible donors find their closest blood collection location.



July 27, 2026  – The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services July 27 released its Contract Year 2025 Part C and Part D Program Audit and Enforcement Report, outlining key compliance issues identified through Medicare Advantage and Part D audits and enforcement activities. CMS emphasized recurring problems involving prior authorization and appeals processing, beneficiary access to medications and services, care coordination, enrollment and eligibility errors, and oversight of delegated entities. The report also highlights enforcement actions totaling approximately $1.54 million in civil money penalties, most of which stemmed from beneficiary cost-sharing and payment integrity failures. CMS signaled increased scrutiny of plans’ compliance with new prior authorization requirements, including the requirement beginning this year to process expedited requests within 72 hours and standard requests within seven calendar days.