Articles and Blogs

Based on additional feedback, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has revised the surveyor guidance issued in September 2012 on Naso-Gastric Tubes (NG Tubes) for F-Tag F322.  Since the NG Tube regulation, §483.25(g), was published, the use of NG Tubes has become increasingly rare in favor of other forms of enteral feeding... READ MORE

On September 27, 2012 CMS issued revised feeding tube interpretive guidelines to the State Operations Manual (“SOM”). While the actual federal regulation did not change, the SOM changes the interpretive guidelines, which can be found in Appendix PP of the SOM. 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

This past September, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) posted revised interpretive guidelines concerning the use of feeding tubes in nursing homes.  In late October, CMS retracted the Survey & Certification Letter detailing the revised changes so they could include instructions that pertain to the Quality Indicator Survey (“QIS”).  Further revised interpretive... READ MORE

Yesterday, CMS sent a new transmittal to the state survey agencies on the use of feeding tubes in nursing homes. In short, F321 has been combined into F322 and according the CMS the changes were made to provide nursing home surveyors with guidance to determine compliance with use of feeding tubes by nursing homes. ... READ MORE