Nursing Home Risk-Based Survey National Implementation
Article Publication Date
Summary
CMS announced that it will begin implementing a new Risk-Based Survey (RBS) process nationwide on September 8. The program is based on a pilot program conducted in 22 states and is a modified form of the Long-Term Care Survey Process. The RBS process will be used for recertifications of "higher-performing" nursing homes and will include a streamlined review of all required areas and fewer activities. These surveys are conducted in roughly half the time with fewer total surveyors than the standard LTCSP.
State agencies and CMS may still conduct the survey using the traditional long-term care (LTC) survey process in any RBS-qualifying facility, based on concerns related to residents’ health and safety, such as complaint reports. According to CMS, a higher quality facility is indicated by factors such as a history of fewer citations, higher staffing levels, fewer hospitalizations, and other similar indicators of quality. About 12% of all nursing facilities will initially qualify for the new risk-based survey process.
State agencies and CMS may still conduct the survey using the traditional long-term care (LTC) survey process in any RBS-qualifying facility, based on concerns related to residents’ health and safety, such as complaint reports. According to CMS, a higher quality facility is indicated by factors such as a history of fewer citations, higher staffing levels, fewer hospitalizations, and other similar indicators of quality. About 12% of all nursing facilities will initially qualify for the new risk-based survey process.