CMS steps up oversight of nursing home inspections

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services last week announced changes to the State Performance Standards System for state survey agencies to ensure that nursing home inspections are timely and accurate. “This includes new performance measures and stricter monitoring to ensure inspections are done in a fair, accurate, and timely manner, ensuring patient safety, and ensuring that enforcement actions — like civil money penalties — are applied consistently,” CMS said. The change is part of a broader CMS plan announced in April to enhance nursing home oversight, enforcement, transparency and quality while reducing administrative burden.