CMS revises long-stay antipsychotic measure
On Sept. 10, 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released updated guidance (QSO-25-20-NH) revising the timeline for the Long-Stay Antipsychotic Measure on the Nursing Home Care Compare website:
Key Update: New Data Sources and Timeline
The revised measure now incorporates Medicare and Medicaid claims and encounter data in addition to MDS assessments. This updated methodology will be reflected in both:
- Nursing Home Care Compare public reporting
- Five-Star Quality Rating System scoring
Effective Jan. 28, 2026, the revised antipsychotic measure will be published on Care Compare and factored into Five-Star calculations.
What this means for Skilled Nursing Providers
Providers should review their prescribing patterns and prepare for potential shifts in reported rates and star ratings. Because the new methodology pulls from claims data as well as MDS, facilities may see different results than in the past.
Now is the time to:
- Audit current antipsychotic use and documentation
- Monitor prescribing practices closely
- Educate staff on how the new measure will affect public reporting and Five-Star performance
Being proactive can help minimize surprises when the revised measure goes live in early 2026.