September 2025 CMS Preview Period Reopened: What LTCHs and IRFs Need to Know About the Corrected Quality Reports
Updated Quality Data, New Measures, and an August 28 Deadline Providers Can’t Afford to Miss
If you’re a provider in the Long-Term Care Hospital (LTCH) or Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility (IRF) space, this month’s update from CMS is not one to skim and ignore. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has officially reopened the September 2025 preview period, giving providers access to newly updated quality reporting data and a tight deadline of August 28, 2025, to act on it.
Why the do-over? CMS identified technical issues in key quality measure calculations that impact public-facing scores for discharge function, mobility, self-care, and infection prevention. These errors have been corrected, and revised performance reports are now available on the Provider Preview Reports portal. These updates directly impact how your facility is evaluated on Medicare.gov’s Compare tool and the Provider Data Catalog (PDC).
Here’s what’s changed, what’s new, and what you need to do right now to protect your quality profile and public ratings.
1. Why CMS Reopened the Preview Period
CMS has made it clear: data accuracy and transparency in public quality reporting are non-negotiable. After identifying technical issues that affected multiple quality measure calculations, CMS acted to correct the data before the official September 2025 refresh. The goal is to ensure that both patients and providers can trust what they see on Medicare Compare and the PDC.
Affected quality measures included:
LTCH Discharge Function
IRF Discharge Function
IRF Discharge Self-care
IRF Discharge Mobility
These measures directly influence how LTCHs and IRFs are ranked and compared nationwide.
Why this matters: These scores are used by referring providers, families, and discharge planners to select facilities. Inaccurate scores could unfairly impact referral volumes, patient trust, and future reimbursement.
2. What’s in the Updated Preview Reports
The September 2025 release incorporates quality data collected from multiple timeframes and sources, including assessment-based and claims-based measures. CMS has published distinct updates for LTCH and IRF providers, but the reporting rules, timelines, and required actions are similar.
For LTCHs, updated measures include:
Assessment-Based Measures: Q1 2024 through Q4 2024
Change in Mobility: Q1 2023 through Q4 2024
COVID-19 Vaccination: Percent of Patients/Residents Up to Date: Q4 2024
CDC Infection Measures (CDI, CAUTI, CLABSI): Q4 2023 through Q3 2024
HCP Influenza Vaccination: Q4 2023 through Q1 2024
HCP COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage: Q4 2024
Claims-Based Measures: Q4 2021 through Q3 2023 (To be refreshed in December 2025)
For IRFs, updated measures include:
Assessment-Based Measures: Q1 2024 through Q4 2024
Discharge Function, Mobility, and Self-care: Corrected and updated
COVID-19 Vaccination: Percent of Patients/Residents Up to Date: Q4 2024
CDC Infection Measures (CDI, CAUTI): Q4 2023 through Q3 2024
HCP Influenza Vaccination: Q4 2023 through Q1 2024
HCP COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage: Q4 2024
Claims-Based Measures: Q4 2021 through Q3 2023 (To be refreshed in December 2025)
3. What You Must Do by August 28, 2025
Facilities have until August 28, 2025, to review their preview reports and, if needed, request a data correction or CMS review.
Here's what you need to do now:
Access your updated Provider Preview Reports
Log in to the CMS QualityNet Secure Portal to view your facility-specific data.Review every measure, especially the corrected ones
Focus on discharge function, mobility, and infection control scores. These are high-visibility metrics.Confirm that your assessment-based data aligns with your internal records.
Discrepancies should be reconciled before requesting a correction.Submit any updates before the final submission deadline.
Only corrections made before the deadline will be reflected on Medicare.gov and the PDC.Request a CMS review if you believe data is incorrect.
Use the CMS review process if you’ve identified scoring errors in the updated report.
Important: If you submit updates after the final deadline, they will only appear in your internal Quality Measure (QM) and Patient-Level QM reports. They will not appear on Medicare.gov or the PDC.
4. What Happens If You Miss the Deadline
The August 28 window is your last opportunity to ensure accurate public-facing quality scores before the September 2025 refresh. If you do not review or correct your report:
Outdated or incorrect data will be published on Medicare.gov
Public perception of your quality may not reflect your actual performance.
You will need to wait until the December 2025 refresh for claims-based updates to appear.
Please note that any post-deadline corrections will not affect your preview report, public tools, or referral metrics. They’ll only be visible through internal CMS reports. Don’t forget.
5. What’s New in 2025 Quality Measures
COVID-19 Measures Take a Front Seat
CMS has doubled down on vaccination-related quality reporting, likely influenced by evolving CDC guidance and public health priorities.
Key additions include:
COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage among Patients/Residents (Q4 2024)
COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage among Healthcare Personnel (Q4 2024)
Infection Control Measures Remain Front and Center
Ongoing inclusion of CDI, CAUTI, and CLABSI measures keeps infection prevention in the spotlight. These measures are derived from CDC data and reflect how well your facility protects both patients and staff.
6. Provider Tips: How to Prepare for Final Publication
To help your team make the most of the preview period, we recommend the following:
Run a report reconciliation meeting
Bring together your clinical, quality, and data teams to walk through the updated preview together.Compare CMS data with your internal dashboards.
Use this time to strengthen your internal QA processes.Update your patient and family communication strategy.
If your facility’s scores are improving, prepare marketing materials to highlight these gains after publication.Set reminders for the next refresh in December 2025
Especially for claims-based measure visibility.Subscribe to CMS alerts.
Stay updated on future technical corrections or measure revisions.
Transparency, Accountability, and Opportunity
The September 2025 preview period reopening is more than a technical correction. It is an opportunity. It is an opportunity for LTCHs and IRFs to ensure that their quality data is accurate, complete, and reflective of the care they deliver.
The August 28, 2025, deadline is fast approaching, and your attention now could make all the difference in how your facility is perceived and reimbursed in the months ahead.
If you need help interpreting your Preview Report, reconciling data, or preparing for public reporting, Chirpy Bird can help. Reach out today to schedule a review session and maintain your data and reputation integrity.
