SNF PPS FY2027 Final Rule: Rate Update and QRP Changes Effective October 1
FR-2026-15562 finalizes SNF PPS FY2027 payment rates and removes two COVID-19 QRP measures effective October 1, 2026.
Action required by
October 1, 2026
Review the Action Required section below and ensure your team has completed all compliance steps before this date.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services published FR-2026-15562, a Final Rule updating the Skilled Nursing Facility Prospective Payment System (SNF PPS) for fiscal year (FY) 2027, effective October 1, 2026. The rule also revises requirements for the SNF Quality Reporting Program (QRP) and the SNF Value-Based Purchasing (VBP) Program. The single most critical compliance implication for revenue cycle teams: MDS data submission deadlines are changing, two QRP measures are being removed, and SNF VBP performance standards for FY 2029 and FY 2030 are now finalized — all requiring immediate review of internal reporting workflows and encoder configurations before the October 1, 2026 effective date.
Regulatory Background
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Quick answers
Are the PDPM ICD-10-CM code mappings changing for FY 2027 under FR-2026-15562?
No. The Final Rule explicitly states that CMS did not propose any substantive changes to the PDPM ICD-10-CM code mappings for FY 2027. Existing case-mix grouping logic based on ICD-10 diagnosis codes remains in effect.
When does the QRP data submission deadline change from 4.5 months to the 15th of the second month after quarter-end take effect?
The revised submission deadline applies beginning with the FY 2029 SNF QRP. Facilities have until then to reconfigure batch submission workflows and vendor scheduler settings, but given typical vendor lead times, planning should begin now.
Which SNF VBP measures are affected by the revised snapshot date finalized at 42 CFR 413.338(f)(1)(v)?
The revised snapshot date applies to the two SNF VBP measures calculated using MDS assessment data, effective beginning with FY 2027 data. The change is designed to maintain alignment with the QRP's updated MDS submission deadlines. Refer to the source document (FR-2026-15562) for the specific measure names.
Content summarized from publicly available federal publications including CMS, MAC contractors, and the Federal Register. CLV Intelligence is not affiliated with or endorsed by any government agency. This is not legal or medical advice.