CMS Releases Revised LTC Surveyor Guidance

November 25, 2024-- On Monday, November 18, 2024, CMS posted memo QSO-25-07- NH, Revised Revised Long-Term Care (LTC) Surveyor Guidance:  Significant revisions to enhance quality and oversight of the LTC survey process. Surveyors will begin using this guidance on February 24, 2025 to determine compliance with requirements. 

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The guidance provides the rationale for the following areas that have been revised: 

• Admission, Transfer, and Discharge
• Chemical Restraints/Unnecessary Psychotropic Medication
• Professional Standards and Medical Director
• Accuracy/Coordination/Certification (MDS)
• Comprehensive Assessment after Significant Change
• QAPI/QAA Improvement Activities
• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
• Pain management
• Physical Environment
• Infection Prevention & Control (revision to incorporate MDRO guidance previously released in QSO-24-08-NH on March 20, 2024 into Appendix PP)
• COVID-19 Immunization (revision to incorporate guidance previously released in  CMS Memo QSO-21-19-NH on May 11, 2021 into Appendix PP)
• Clarifications and technical corrections including removal of erroneous references and typographical errors.

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The guidance also includes:

• An advanced copy of the Critical Element Pathways 
• An advanced copy of Appendix PP 
• Notification that training for nursing home surveyors and providers will be publicly posted  following the release of the memo in the Quality, Safety, and Education Portal (QSEP) (https://qsep.cms.gov/welcome.aspx) to explain the revisions made to the guidance. 

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Powerback Rehab will continue to monitor these revisions.

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