The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced changes to Nursing Home Care Compare aimed at addressing data issues that emerged following the agency’s transition to the Internet Quality Improvement and Evaluation System (iQIES). In a January 9, 2026, memorandum to nursing home providers, CMS outlined steps to address data discrepancies on the website and confirmed that it will remove the number of complaint allegations and facility-reported incidents from public display beginning February 25, 2026.
CMS said the removal of complaint allegation counts is part of an ongoing evaluation of how complaint information is presented on Nursing Home Care Compare. The agency stated that the goal of the evaluation is to ensure complaint data is clear, accurate, and useful for consumers making healthcare decisions.
Previously, Nursing Home Care Compare displayed only complaints considered “substantiated.” However, CMS noted that due to a policy change, the term “substantiated” is no longer applicable. As part of the iQIES system transition, CMS removed the associated filter, resulting in the public display of all complaint allegations and facility-reported incidents from the past three years.
CMS acknowledged that this change led to an increase in the number of complaints shown for many facilities. The counts included duplicate allegations, unverified claims, and self-reported incidents that may not reflect validated quality concerns or regulatory violations. During the current evaluation period, CMS will remove the numerical counts of complaint allegations and facility-reported incidents. Information related to official complaint surveys and complaint citations issued as a result of those investigations will continue to be publicly available on Nursing Home Care Compare.
The memorandum also addresses data discrepancies linked to CMS’s transition from the legacy Quality Improvement and Evaluation System (QIES) to the cloud-based iQIES platform, which became effective July 14, 2025. While CMS stated that most survey and certification data remain accurate, the agency acknowledged that some discrepancies may currently appear on Nursing Home Care Compare as a result of the transition. CMS’s technical team is actively working to identify and resolve transition-related issues. CMS encouraged providers who identify specific discrepancies or have concerns about how their facility’s data is represented to report those issues directly to the agency at BetterCare@cms.hhs.gov.
CMS stated that additional updates to how complaint data is displayed and interpreted will be rolled out as the evaluation progresses. The memorandum is effective immediately, and CMS requested that providers communicate this information to appropriate staff within 30 days.
Compliance Perspective
Issue
CMS has announced changes to Nursing Home Care Compare following its transition to iQIES, including the removal of the number of complaint allegations and facility-reported incidents from public display beginning February 25, 2026. CMS also acknowledged that data discrepancies may be present on Nursing Home Care Compare as a result of the system transition. While CMS is actively working to address these issues, facilities remain responsible for ensuring the accuracy of their internal data, maintaining survey readiness, and responding appropriately to discrepancies or regulatory concerns. These changes underscore the need for strong internal processes related to data oversight, documentation, and quality monitoring.
Discussion Points
- Review and update policies and procedures related to complaint management, survey tracking, and quality data oversight to reflect the recent iQIES transition and changes to Nursing Home Care Compare reporting. Procedures should outline how publicly reported data is routinely reviewed, how potential discrepancies are identified and escalated, and how facilities document follow-up actions. Facilities may consider working with their consultant to evaluate whether current policies and workflows adequately support data accuracy, complaint oversight, and timely response to survey-related issues.
- Provide education to staff involved in quality assurance, compliance, and survey coordination to ensure they understand recent changes to Nursing Home Care Compare and the impact of the iQIES transition on publicly reported data.
- Conduct audits to assess complaint documentation, survey outcomes, and internal data used for regulatory reporting to ensure consistency and accuracy. Audits may help identify documentation gaps, trends, or process weaknesses that could contribute to data discrepancies or regulatory risk. Facilities may benefit from periodic independent or consultant-supported reviews, such as focused audits or mock surveys, to validate internal practices, identify areas for improvement, and support proactive compliance management.
*This news alert has been prepared by Med-Net Concepts, Inc. for informational purposes only and is not intended to provide legal advice.*