Articles and Blogs

On July 16, 2019, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) released a pre-publication copy of the revisions (“Proposed Rule”) to Part 483 to Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations the Requirements for States and Long-Term Care Facilities (“RoPs”). CMS stated that it identified a number of existing skilled nursing facility... READ MORE

On January 13, 2017, CMS published the revised Conditions of Participation (“CoPs”) for home health agencies, 42 CFR 484, Subparts A, B, and Subpart C. The CoPs became effective on January 13, 2018. On August 31, 2018, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) issued a Memorandum to State Survey Agency Directors (QSO-18-25-HHA) that... READ MORE

On August 17, 2018, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) issued a Memorandum to State Survey Agency Directors (QSO-18-24-ESRD) outlining additional survey activities that address dialysis services provided by an end-stage renal disease (“ESRD”) facility to residents in a long-term care facility. The survey process for evaluating home dialysis in nursing homes consists... READ MORE

Review of the New Home Health Conditions of Participation – Infection Control and Prevention; Skilled Professional Services; and Home Health Aide Services. This is the third article in a series discussing CMS’s Final Revised Home Health Conditions of Participation (“Final CoPs”). With the release of the Final CoPs, CMS is finalizing the significant changes... READ MORE

Review of the New Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement Condition This is the first article in a series discussing CMS’s pre-publication copy of the Final Revised Home Health Conditions of Participation (“Final CoPs”). With the release of the Final CoPs, CMS is finalizing, with only a few changes, the significant changes they proposed to... READ MORE

Originally due last Fall, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) has published the Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement (“QAPI”) Provider Toolkit and Provider Resources for skilled nursing facilities (“SNFs”).  These items have been published on a new CMS website dedicated to helping SNFs develop and implement a QAPI program, as required by... READ MORE

During yesterday’s Open Door Forum, Jeanette Kranacs, the Director of the Division of Institutional Post-Acute Care for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) commented that CMS will not be issuing instructions to surveyors on evaluating compliance and ethics programs until the regulations have been promulgated.  CMS was required to have final regulations and various tools in place as of... READ MORE

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) just released the 2012 Nursing Home Action Plan; a guide for CMS’ efforts to continue to improve nursing home safety and quality.  The plan features 5 actionable strategies, including: enhance consumer engagement; strengthen survey processes, standards, and enforcement; promote quality improvement; create strategic approaches through partnerships; and... READ MORE

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released a S&C Letter detailing the Nursing Home Quality Improvement Questionnaire (NHQIQ) discussed earlier this week.   The Affordable Care Act (ACA) mandates CMS to establish standards and provided technical assistance to nursing homes on the development and best practices relating to Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement... READ MORE

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is giving nursing home providers the opportunity to participate in the development of a new quality improvement initiative that was mandated by the Affordable Care Act (ACA).  While few people expected any issues with the implementation of the provisions in the ACA that affected long-term care... READ MORE