News Article

CMS Issues New Guidance and Training for Nursing Home Surveyors

June 30, 2022

On June 29, 2022, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued long-awaited guidance to state survey agencies. In 2016, CMS revised the Requirements for Participation for Long-Term Care Facilities. These revisions were to be implemented in three phases. Due to delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, CMS is just now releasing revisions to the Phase 2 guidance along with the new Phase 3 guidance.
 
The newly released guidance (QSO-22-19-NH) provides direction to surveyors in a variety of areas, including:

• Abuse and neglect investigations;
• Admission, transfer, and discharge rights;
• Mental health and substance abuse disorders;
• The inappropriate diagnosis of schizophrenia;
• The use of certain medications;
• Infection control;
• Arbitration agreements;
• Revisions to the complaint investigation process; and
• Revisions to the Psychosocial Outcome Severity Guide.

In addition to the new guidance, CMS issued new training resources for state surveyor agencies.

The new guidance will go into effect on October 24, 2022.

In the coming days, Consumer Voice will be releasing more detailed information on the new guidance, including a summary and analysis.