(July 3, 2025) – CMS Center Issues Updates to State Operations Manual Procedures for Complaint Investigations
On June 27, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Center for Clinical Standards and Quality/Quality, Safety & Oversight Group released updates to the State Operations Manual, Chapter 5, Sections 5500-5590. The updates to Chapter 5 provide procedures for complaint investigations and enforcement for all laboratory certificate types.
The updates include procedures for conducting complaint investigations in laboratories for all certificate types and temporary testing sites; revisions to complaint investigations and enforcement timelines; and reporting and investigating of transfusion-related fatalities.
TJC Launches Transformative Approach to Health Care Accreditation
On Monday, The Joint Commission launched Accreditation 360: The New Standard, a major overhaul of its health care accreditation process. The initiative aims to reduce administrative burdens, enhance patient safety and modernize accreditation by leveraging technology, data analytics and a focus on outcomes.
Key changes include a simplified accreditation process, streamlined patient safety practices, focused outcome measures for certification and additional resources. Read more in TJC's news release.
CMS Releases Medicare CY 2026 ESRD and HHA Payment and Policy Updates
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released the calendar year 2026 proposed End-Stage Renal Disease and Home Health Agency Prospective Payment System payment and policy updates. CMS estimates that ESRD PPS payments will increase by approximately 1.9 percent, while HHA PPS payments will decrease by 6.4 percent.
Comments must be submitted by Friday, Aug. 29, for ESRD PPS proposals and by Tuesday, Sept. 2, for HHA PPS proposals.
MLN Connects Provider eNews Available
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued the following updates to MLN Connects Provider eNews: