CMS Alters Survey Procedures In Light of Sequestration Cuts

In a memo released on Tuesday, CMS announced plans to alter some nursing home survey procedures related to life safety codes as a result of sequestration budget cuts. The CMS Survey & Certification budget has been reduced 5 percent from 2012.

The changes are as follows:

• Life Safety Code (LSC) Survey Focus: To help surveyors meet the August 13, 2013 deadline for all nursing homes to install automatic sprinklers, CMS has created a Short Form survey process. 
• Efficiency and Effectiveness: The agency hopes that the Short Form will help surveyors work more efficiently in light of the budget cuts. It should allow them to spend less time at facilities that have demonstrated compliance with codes in the past and more time at facilities with less-than-stellar records. 
• State Option: States will be given the option to implement a Short Form Fire Safety Survey for a limited number of specified facilities that have demonstrated superior compliance with life safety codes and are fully sprinklered. 
• Training: Surveyors in states using the Short Form must be trained during a special training event before utilizing the new process. 

Beginning in FY2013 and at the beginning of each year thereafter, CMS will send each state a list of facilities that qualify to use the Short Form survey process. 

To read the memo, click here.