From IPC Training Clarifications to Ohio Supreme Court Wins – What Providers Need to Know

Beyond the Fine Print

September 5, 2025 Edition

CMS Clarifies Infection Preventionist Training

Providers asked if Infection Preventionists must repeat the CDC course when it's updated. CMS says no—once completed, the training doesn’t expire. But if your resident population changes, it’s smart for the IP to reassess skills and consider refreshed training. Surveyors may still review training records if infection control issues arise. You can find full guidance in CMS’s State Operations Manual, Appendix PP (see F882) and CMS memoranda.APICBaker Donelson

PASRR Training: Last Chance from COE-NF

COE-NF will host a final live session on PASRR Essentials—covering federal rules, state processes, and Level I/II screening best practices—on September 16, 2025, 2–3 PM ET. It’s one of the last chances: the grant ends September 29, and live training and technical help stop then. Requests for support close September 15. Many sessions offer ACCME and NAB credits. Note: NOMNC now lists Commence Health instead of Livanta.  

PASRR Essentials: Federal Requirements and State-Specific Navigation for Nursing Facilities - COE-NF. 

The Center of Excellence Releases Final Live Education Events.

Wi-Fi Access During Surveys

If your facility's guest Wi-Fi is unsecured, surveyors should use their hotspot. If that’s not possible, you can give them temporary, remote EMR access—but limit it to hours when they're on-site.

MDS 3.0 RAI Manual v1.20.1 Finalized

The final MDS 3.0 RAI User’s Manual (v1.20.1) was released August 29, 2025, and goes into effect October 1, 2025.

Key updates:

• Terminology: “Gender” is now “Sex.” Some examples and clarifications were removed.
• Section A: A0810 (“Sex”) replaces A0800 (“Gender”). A1255 replaces A1250—used only if the resident lived in the community fewer than 366 days.
• Section GG: Stair activity may include “scooting”; improved clarity on self-care and mobility; recliner may count as a “bed” in coding.
• Section J (Falls): Includes falls from external force (e.g., push). Safe therapy falls don’t count unless functionally unsupported; major injury definition broadened but pathologic fractures are excluded.
• Sections K–O: Includes clearer rules on weight change, wound assessment, medication classification (N), and new therapy coding items like O0390 (Therapy Services).

See the manual for full change tables.

Ohio Nursing Homes Win Supreme Court Case

On September 2, 2025, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled that Medicaid quality incentive payments must use the direct care rate, not just price. That expands the quality pool and must apply retroactively to July 1, 2023. The law remains in effect despite the budget cycle ending—this is a big financial win. For details, see coverage from leading industry sources.

https://www.brickergraydon.com/insights/publications/ohio-supreme-court-win-for-nursing-homes-and-quality-incentive-payments?utm_source=chatgpt.com

New Research: DON Turnover Tied to Lower Quality

A recent JAMDA-published study found that turnover among Directors of Nursing (DONs)—and to a lesser extent administrators—is strongly linked to lower quality scores in Ohio nursing homes. The research pooled CMS Five-Star data, satisfaction surveys, and facility traits to reach this conclusion. Authors suggest TURNOVER be considered in quality rating systems. Read more in McKnight’s Long-Term Care News.

Other studies reinforce this link. For example, research shows that turnover among administrators and nursing staff is tied to poorer quality indicators and resident outcomes.PubMedJournal of Long-Term Care.