Everything you need to know to meet the mandate
CMS has just finalized the Malnutrition Care Score (CMS986) as a mandatory measure for acute care hospitals — effective performance year 2028 — and expanded it to cover all adult inpatients, not just patients 65+. If your nutrition, quality, and IT teams haven't started preparing, the clock is now running.
This session gives you the facts to follow along, then provides expert insights from experts working quality and malnutrition today. Rick Riggs moderates a candid panel with Sandra Miller and Amy Reisenberg on what hospitals actually need to do now.
What You'll Take Away
- A clear, no-fluff explanation of what MCS measures, who it covers, and how the score is calculated
- A straight read on where the measure stands today — what's confirmed, what's still evolving, and what it does and doesn't require
- Practical steps to close the RD-to-physician documentation gap that most compliance efforts run into
- Guidance from nutrition, physician, and quality/IT leadership on who should own what to get ready
- Concrete next steps hospitals can start now to meet the mandate on time
Panelists
Moderator: Rick Riggs, MD — Chief Medical Officer, HealthLeap
Panelist: Sandra Miller, MS, RDN, CPHQ, CDES — Department Manager, Patient Safety & Quality, CommonSpirit
Panelist: Amy Reisenberg, MS, RDN, CDCES — Clinical Engagement Manager, HealthLeap, former Stanford dietitian