October 23, 2026 – The Long Term Care Community Coalition (LTCCC) has published a new resource identifying nursing homes eligible for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) new Risk-Based Survey (RBS) process, which reduces the scope and duration of inspections for facilities CMS considers to be “higher performing.”

Under the policy, which took effect September 8, 2026, qualifying nursing homes may receive abbreviated inspections involving fewer survey activities, smaller samples of residents, and roughly half the onsite time of a standard inspection. CMS also identifies these facilities with a gold trophy icon on Medicare’s Care Compare website.

LTCCC has serious concerns about this policy and its implications for resident safety. CMS relies heavily on past inspection results and quality measures to determine which facilities qualify for reduced oversight. However, these measures do not necessarily reflect the quality of care residents are receiving today. Weak inspections, missed violations, and changes in staffing or management can leave residents vulnerable to harm, even in facilities designated as higher performing.

To support transparency and informed advocacy, LTCCC’s new webpage provides:

  • A downloadable national list of nursing homes currently eligible for risk-based surveys, based on CMS data.
  • Regular updates to reflect changes in facility eligibility as new CMS data become available.
  • Resources for residents, families, and ombudsmen, including LTCCC’s previous alerts, an ombudsman guide, and links to additional nursing home quality and staffing data.

Importantly, a gold trophy icon does not guarantee high-quality care. Residents, families, and advocates should continue to examine a facility’s staffing, inspection history, and other quality indicators rather than relying on CMS’s designation alone.

LTCCC encourages residents, families, ombudsmen, and other advocates to use this resource to identify facilities receiving reduced oversight and raise concerns about resident care with the appropriate authorities.

View LTCCC’s New Risk-Based Survey Resource and Facility Data →