CMS is updating the system it uses to monitor the performance of nursing home inspectors to hold them more accountable and revamp the inspection process.
The agency will implement changes to its State Performance Standards System in fiscal year 2020 as part of the Trump administration's effort to improve nursing home quality and safety.
Five things to know:
1. The changes aim to ensure the accuracy and timeliness of nursing home inspections through increased monitoring.
2. CMS will add new state performance indicators that will be reviewed quarterly, instead of annually, to identify potential issues before they worsen. New indicators are related to citation rates and the timeliness of complaint investigations.
3. To hold inspectors more accountable in "immediate jeopardy" cases, the agency will formally measure the timeliness and accuracy of notifications to facilities about cases presenting immediate danger.
4. The updated SPPS system will allow CMS to add state-specific measures that allocate necessary resources and focus on the area's unique challenges.
5. CMS will also improve inspectors' access to centralized CMS data to avoid redundant reporting and decrease unnecessary administrative burden.
The new changes come less than two weeks after CMS updated its Nursing Home Compare website with a new consumer alert icon next to nursing homes that have been cited for abuse.