Money moves
New Year, New Rates: 12 States Implement Medicaid SNF Increases Today
Twelve states kicked off 2026 with Medicaid rate increases ranging from 2.1% to 5.8%, with New York's 5.8% adjustment being the largest among major markets.
Policy watch
Federal Staffing Mandate Phase 1 Now Officially in Effect
As of January 1, all SNFs must have an RN on site 24/7 under Phase 1 of the federal staffing mandate, though CMS has indicated a 90-day grace period for enforcement.
Heads up
New Reporting Requirements for SNF-Owned Pharmacies Take Effect
Starting today, SNFs with related-party pharmacy arrangements must report drug acquisition costs and dispensing fees separately on the Medicare cost report.
Technology
CMS Launches Updated Nursing Home Compare Website With Real-Time Data
The revamped Care Compare portal now pulls staffing data weekly instead of quarterly, giving consumers and regulators a near real-time view of facility nurse hours.
The bottom line
January 1 brought new Medicaid rates, the 24/7 RN mandate is officially live, and the transparency push extends to both pharmacy costs and real-time staffing data.