The U.S. Government Accountability Office has released a report in which it calls on CMS to improve efforts to monitor and facilitate states' implementation of the nursing home quality indicator survey.
Since 2006, CMS has commissioned three studied to evaluate the QIS-based survey process. The first two studies, completed in 2006 and 2007, suggested that surveyors could use the survey process and recommended changes intended to help improve the QIS. In 2009, CMS commissioned a third study that was completed in 2011 and identified aspects of the QIS process that could affect the consistency with which surveyors identify quality problems.
GAO's assessment of CMS' efforts to oversee states' implementation of the survey showed the agency has taken some steps, but those efforts are not systematic. For instance, CMS uses quarterly teleconferences with state survey officials to determine how each state has completed training all its surveyors to use the QIS. However, states may not always participate in the teleconferences, and those that do may not provide complete information on their progress.
GAO has recommended CMS develop systematic means to routinely monitor states' progress in meeting the objectives of the QIS. HHS fully concurred with all of the recommendations.
Since 2006, CMS has commissioned three studied to evaluate the QIS-based survey process. The first two studies, completed in 2006 and 2007, suggested that surveyors could use the survey process and recommended changes intended to help improve the QIS. In 2009, CMS commissioned a third study that was completed in 2011 and identified aspects of the QIS process that could affect the consistency with which surveyors identify quality problems.
GAO's assessment of CMS' efforts to oversee states' implementation of the survey showed the agency has taken some steps, but those efforts are not systematic. For instance, CMS uses quarterly teleconferences with state survey officials to determine how each state has completed training all its surveyors to use the QIS. However, states may not always participate in the teleconferences, and those that do may not provide complete information on their progress.
GAO has recommended CMS develop systematic means to routinely monitor states' progress in meeting the objectives of the QIS. HHS fully concurred with all of the recommendations.
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