On September 29, 2026, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a revised version of QSO-26-14-NH, the Memo that put the Risk-Based Survey (RBS) process into effect nationally. The original was released on July 16, 2026.
If you’ve been following RBS, the short version of the revision is that the program itself hasn’t moved or changed. The timing of what the public sees has.
What Changed
CMS’s revisions come down to a single date change:
- The high-performer icon now appears on Nursing Home Compare starting October 8, 2026. This is the trophy icon that will sit on a qualifying facility’s profile page.
- The public list of RBS-qualified facilities also won’t be released until October 8, 2026. CMS had originally planned to post it on Care Compare today, September 30, 2026.
What Didn’t Change
The revision doesn’t alter the nationwide launch, which began on September 8, 2026. The qualifying and disqualifying criteria, the facility data CMS is using, and the training scheduled for surveyors appear untouched in the revised Memo.
What This Means for You
Care Compare still won’t be the source of truth for survey performance. CMS reminds states that because of data transmission and posting times, the facilities on the lists sent to states may not match the facilities showing the ion. States are directed to schedule RBS surveys from the lists they receive and the disqualifying criteria, not from what appears on Nursing Home Compare.
The trophy icon is a live status, not a permanent badge. It only stays on a facility’s profile while the facility remains eligible for RBS. Losing eligibility = losing the trophy.
October 8 is when families and referral partners can start looking at your facility’s status. Once the list and icon are public, your RBS qualification – or lack of it – becomes visible to anyone comparing providers. If you haven’t checked where you stand against the qualifying criteria, now’s the time.
Join CMSCG on October 8
The day the icon and list go live, CMSCG’s Linda Elizaitis and Brandie Elizaitis are presenting Most Facilities Won’t Qualify for RBS – Here’s How to Change That for NYSHFA | NYSCAL. The webinar runs 10:00 am – 12:00 pm and offers 2.0 CEUs, at $134 for members and $159 for non-members. Registration and payment are handled through NYSHFA | NYSCAL. More details are available here.
Want to know where your facility stands before October 8? CMSCG’s survey preparedness services include mock surveys and data reviews mapped to the RBS qualifying and disqualifying criteria. Contact CMSCG to talk with our team.
