Home

Chat with usLiveChat

LeadingAge Iowa is a statewide membership organization of non-profit providers of aging services and supports and the champion for advancement and innovation in aging services. Our mission is to be the voice, support and connector for non-profit members and the people they serve. Our membership is diverse, representing the spectrum of non-profit long-term support and service providers including skilled nursing, assisted and independent living, PACE, home health, adult day, respite, hospice and home delivered meals. Our members serve over 25,000 older adults in Iowa each day.

CMS Revises Several Regulations in Appendix PP

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) released a Quality, Safety & Oversight Group (QSO) Memo on November 18, 2024. QSO-25-07-NH incorporates revised Appendix PP regulations including Admission, Transfer & Discharge, Chemical Restraints/Unnecessary Psychotropic Medication, Resident Assessment, Quality of Life and Quality of Care, Administration, Quality Assurance Performance Improvement (QAPI), Infection Prevention and Control, and other areas including clarifications and technical corrections have also been made throughout Appendix PP. The memo lists an effective date of February 24, 2025, and surveyor resources will be finalized and released on that date as well. Advanced copies are currently available and included in the memo. The revised guidance is outlined below.

Federal Judge Throws Out Staffing Mandate in LeadingAge Case

On April 7, federal judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk issued a ruling in favor of the plaintiffs to vacate the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) minimum staffing standards included in the final rule. The plaintiffs, including LeadingAge and American Health Care Association, filed to vacate the staffing standards in the United States District Court for Northern Texas in May 2024. The plaintiff’s case was based on the belief that CMS exceeded its authority to issue such staffing requirements. The judgment denied the defendants’ cross-motion for summary judgement and dismissed the case with prejudice.