CMS Releases Significant Updates to Nursing Home Surveyor Guidance

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released an update to surveyor guidance on November 18 that provides greater insight and direction on several areas of the Requirements of Participation. The guidance and associated surveyor activities will be implemented in February 2025.

The identified areas are unsurprising, as they represent areas of significant focus from CMS in recent years such as unnecessary psychotropic medications, erroneous minimum data set (MDS) coding, transfer and discharge rights and procedures, and infection control.

While requirements have not changed, the details in the guidance will likely result in increased citations as surveyors become more familiar with CMS's expectations for compliance.

LeadingAge is reviewing the guidance and will provide more detailed analysis in the coming days.