April 18, 2025 - An enormous wave of government job cuts began at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in the first week of April. While the cuts at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) have been more limited so far (300 positions were eliminated on April 1), healthcare providers should be aware of potential service interruptions that could occur.

Consequences of Reduced Capacity

Earlier this year, the long-term care industry experienced a disruption that underscored the potential consequences of reduced CMS capacity. In January, skilled nursing facility providers were unable to access their updated quarterly quality measures on the CMS Care Compare website.

This timing coincided with the White House’s pause on external communications from government entities. While this data was ultimately released two weeks later, providers were left in limbo and unable to properly assess their quality metrics in real time. This delay was particularly concerning for providers in states like Ohio, where Medicaid reimbursement rates are partially tied to some of these quality metrics. Timely analysis is crucial for facilities to respond and adjust clinical protocols as needed.

Approaching Deadlines

One CMS deadline that is rapidly approaching is the Medicare Provider Enrollment Revalidation. This mandate, issued by CMS in September 2024, requires all skilled nursing facilities to submit a new enrollment form and failure to do so could result in the facility having their provider enrollment suspended or revoked.

While the skilled nursing facility industry received some welcome news this week that this deadline has been extended until August 1, 2025, the new revalidation has expanded and requires a significant amount of new information. We anticipate that this process will be more complex and time-consuming than in the past. Starting early will be critical for skilled nursing facility operators, especially if CMS resources in this area are impacted by job cuts, as providers may have more limited access to assistance.

How We Can Help

Our dedicated Healthcare Industry Practice professionals are available to help you navigate these developments and challenges. To ensure that your facility is well-positioned to respond to any future CMS service delays, contact Barbara Notardonato-Cole.