CMS Memo: S&C 18-04-NH: Temporary Enforcement Delays for Certain Phase 2 F-Tags and Changes to Nursing Home Compare
- Temporary moratorium on imposing certain enforcement remedies for specific Phase 2 requirements: CMS will provide an 18 month moratorium on the imposition of certain enforcement remedies for specific Phase 2 requirements. This 18 month period will be used to educate facilities about specific new Phase 2 standards.
- Freeze Health Inspection Star Ratings: Following the implementation of the new LTC survey process on November 28, 2017, CMS will hold constant the current health inspection star ratings on the Nursing Home Compare (NHC) website for any surveys occurring between November 28, 2017 and November 27, 2018.
- Availability of Survey Findings: The survey findings of facilities surveyed under the new LTC survey process will be published on NHC, but will not be incorporated into calculations for the Five-Star Quality Rating System for 12 months. CMS will add indicators to NHC that summarize survey findings.
- Methodological Changes and Changes in Nursing Home Compare: In early 2018, NHC health inspection star ratings will be based on the two most recent cycles of findings for standard health inspection surveys and the two most recent years of complaint inspections.
Please see the full memo and details at www.cms.gov/Medicare/Provider-Enrollment-and-Certification/SurveyCertificationGenInfo/Policy-and-Memos-to-States-and-Regions-Items/Survey-and-Cert-Letter-18-04.html?DLPage=1&DLEntries=10&DLSort=1&DLSortDir=descending.