Important post federal shutdown guidance from CMS – Please read

On Monday, November 24th, CMS released QSO-26-02-ALL on the subject Questions + Answers for State Recovery after the Federal Government Shutdown | CMS.  Additionally, on Wednesday, the Division of Quality Assurance (DQA) issued a Gov-Delivery Notification and Update sharing CMS’ QSO-26-02-ALL. WHCA/WiCAL confirmed with DQA officials that this CMS memo provided the clear guidance that they were waiting on to resume normal survey activities, so members should expect the resumption of normal surveys as well as the rapid issuance of 2567’s that were not issued during the course of the shutdown.

Here are some highlights:

• On November 12, 2025, Congress enacted Public Law 119-37, providing for a continuing appropriation (“continuing resolution”) through January 30, 2026, with retroactive authority back to October 1, 2025.
  • This enables States to be reimbursed for survey activities conducted during the shutdown period.
• The answers in the QSO provide special procedures applicable only to the period of the federal government shutdown (Oct. 1, 2025 through November 12, 2025) and subsequent steps including the following:
  • States should resume all activities suspended during the shutdown.
  • States should issue all federal surveys where the CMS-2567 had been held due to the shutdown by December 12, 2025.
• The QSO directs questions to the relevant CMS location (CMS Region).

Please feel free to reach out to Eric, ekoch@whcawical.org , or Rick, rick@whcawical.org , if we can be of further assistance.