How Nursing Homes get surveyed
Currently, Massachusetts nursing homes are being surveyed by the Department of Public Health on behalf of CMS. Dedham was one of the last to have the state in-house. At the time of this writing, they are also at a home in New Bedford on a follow-up with issues from their last survey. What does this mean? Why do the states do surveys? What is the result of the survey and how does it affect anything?
CMS stands for Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Systems. This group performs a survey of nursing homes to see if they are meeting the necessary requirements to receive reimbursements from these programs. Basically, the survey is done to make sure that the nursing homes and skilled nursing facilities are abiding by safe and lawful practices compliant with the state rules to get paid. 42 CFR Part 483, Subpart B; this outlines the rules that these facilities have to follow to pass the survey. If the places do poor on these services they get a chance to correct the problem that the state will follow up on before they cut payment.
This is always a stressful time of the year for Administrators and Directors. When things go poorly at the home someone usually always pays the price and if the mistake is a large one, management is usually the one getting the blame. Nurses and other staff members will all be on their best game when they know the state is watching if they have not already been because they know that everyone is paying real close attention and the pressure is on to not make mistakes.
The State comes in without notice, although, most nursing home administrators have a general idea when they will come. The healthcare administrator field is small and everyone talks to each other. The State can also come in day or night 24 hours a day out of the 365 days in the year to perform their survey. The length of time on the surveys vary by facility and is dependent on things such as past performance, cooperation, and findings.
These surveys are not public record and what is being looked at is not usually predictable by the facility. Even the buildings census can change what the scrutinized. All in all, it is a hectic time for the staff but a necessary blessing for those being cared for to know that the care they receive is being monitored by the state to make sure these facilities are financially motivated if nothing else.
For more information on CMS Survey check this out. To find out at some of the consequences of a nursing home not passing a CMS Survey check here.
CMS stands for Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Systems. This group performs a survey of nursing homes to see if they are meeting the necessary requirements to receive reimbursements from these programs. Basically, the survey is done to make sure that the nursing homes and skilled nursing facilities are abiding by safe and lawful practices compliant with the state rules to get paid. 42 CFR Part 483, Subpart B; this outlines the rules that these facilities have to follow to pass the survey. If the places do poor on these services they get a chance to correct the problem that the state will follow up on before they cut payment.
This is always a stressful time of the year for Administrators and Directors. When things go poorly at the home someone usually always pays the price and if the mistake is a large one, management is usually the one getting the blame. Nurses and other staff members will all be on their best game when they know the state is watching if they have not already been because they know that everyone is paying real close attention and the pressure is on to not make mistakes.
The State comes in without notice, although, most nursing home administrators have a general idea when they will come. The healthcare administrator field is small and everyone talks to each other. The State can also come in day or night 24 hours a day out of the 365 days in the year to perform their survey. The length of time on the surveys vary by facility and is dependent on things such as past performance, cooperation, and findings.
These surveys are not public record and what is being looked at is not usually predictable by the facility. Even the buildings census can change what the scrutinized. All in all, it is a hectic time for the staff but a necessary blessing for those being cared for to know that the care they receive is being monitored by the state to make sure these facilities are financially motivated if nothing else.
For more information on CMS Survey check this out. To find out at some of the consequences of a nursing home not passing a CMS Survey check here.
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