Oh, and One More Thing! CMS Regulatory Updates for 2026

Ms. Szumlinski is a nationally-recognized leader in long-term care with experience as an Owner/Provider, Administrator, Director of Nursing, Corporate Quality Assurance Coordinator and independent consultant. Ms. Szumlinski conducts risk management visits at facilities across the country, touching every acuity level within the post-acute care spectrum. Ms. Szumlinski served as an Associate Board Member for NCAL, is a member of the AHCA/NCAL Survey/Regulatory committee, NCAL Quality committee, HCAM Legal/ Clinical Committee and served as a Senior Examiner/Team Leader for the AHCA/NCAL Quality Award Program for 7 years. Ms. Szumlinski is a Nurse Planner for the HealthCap® RMS ANCC accredited education program.

Melanie L. Flachs is a seasoned nurse leader with 41 years of nursing experience and more than three decades dedicated to long-term care. She has held roles including Director of Nursing, MDS Coordinator, and Clinical Consultant, bringing deep expertise in clinical operations, regulatory compliance, and reimbursement. For the past 13 years, Melanie has served as Chief Clinical Officer for The Peplinski Group, a family-owned organization operating 10 skilled nursing communities.

Her clinical consulting experience includes survey and certification compliance, development and implementation of plans of correction, facility turnaround support, and reimbursement optimization. Melanie has extensive hands-on experience with Interact III care pathways, SBAR communication, corporate compliance programs, and clinical documentation education for frontline staff. She has also led electronic medical record implementation, policy and procedure development, restorative program implementation, staffing analysis, and MDS education focused on person-centered care and quality outcomes. Melanie is a frequent industry speaker for professional organizations and remains actively engaged in advancing clinical excellence in long-term care.

Cynthia J. Johnson is a seasoned healthcare executive currently serving as Vice President of Clinical Services at Atrium Centers. She brings extensive experience leading clinical operations across multi-site skilled nursing and assisted living organizations. Cynthia has a strong track record in regulatory compliance, quality improvement, and clinical program development, consistently driving improved outcomes, reduced citations, and higher quality ratings. She is known for her collaborative leadership style, expertise in risk management, and success in implementing systems and strategies that enhance patient care and organizational performance.

Ms. Mastropietro is an RN with more than 30 years of experience. She started her career in acute care and worked in MS, ER, and Pediatrics, then continued into administration resulting in a CNO for an acute care hospital. In 2000, she switched directions and moved into the LTC industry as a DON in a facility that specialized in TBI. She became certified as a CRRN (Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse) and remained a DON in LTC until 2015. She achieved a nursing citation-free survey and has also been successful with IDR’s development and submission. She is well versed in the LTC industry including regulatory requirements and how to achieve them.

Gwynn Ryder is a senior healthcare operations leader with more than two decades of experience advancing clinical quality across skilled nursing, rehabilitation, and assisted living settings. As Vice President of Operations at Aspire Regional Partners she partners with multi-site teams to strengthen clinical outcomes, drive survey readiness and regulatory compliance, and build the systems, coaching, and accountability that support consistent, resident-centered care.

Across her career, Gwynn has led complex clinical turnarounds, helping organizations improve quality measure performance, elevate quality ratings, and achieve strong survey results, including deficiency-free outcomes and quality award recognition. She is known for stabilizing clinical teams, strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration, and improving care transitions through close partnerships with hospitals, ACOs, and preferred-provider networks.