Common Nursing Facility Survey Deficiencies

McKnights Long Term Care News offers a free webinar entitled “2012 Survey Update: The Least You Need to Know” on common nursing facility deficiencies. Linda Elizaitis, president of CMS Compliance Group and one of the speakers, stated the most common nursing home citations have to do with kitchen sanitation, infection control, management of resident care plans and [...]

New Interpretive Guidance on Quality of Life and Environment

On June 12, 2009, Appendix PP, pertaining to nursing facilities, was revised with regard to F-tags 172, 175, 241, 242, 246, 247, 252, 255, 256, 371, 461 and 463. Here is a copy of the CMS Transmittal detailing the changes: Transmittal 48 James M. Berklan, editor of McKnight’s Long-Term Care News says the following about [...]

Are You Ready for the Latest Changes to the SOM? Tags 325 and 371

On September 1, 2008, changes within Appendix PP of the State Operations Manual become effective. The changes involve deleting F326 and incorporating that tag’s guidance into F325 and deleting F370 and incorporating it into F371. However, the changes are voluminous compared to what exists now. You may find the changes here, comprising 58 pages. The [...]

Provider Letters: Workload Prioritization of Initial Certification Surveys, OASIS-B1

The Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) issued a provider letter to Nursing Facilities and Hospitals Seeking Medicare Certification for a Skilled Nursing Care Unit to inform them about new policy documents issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding workload prioritization on initial certification surveys. Attached to the two-page [...]

Cooperation Key to Nursing Home Quality Improvements

Mary Ousley, past chair of the American Health Care Association, which represents long term care providers, testified before a congressional committee last week about the long term care profession’s experience with the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987 (OBRA ‘87). OBRA ’87 is considered landmark legislation because it established many nursing home oversight rules in [...]

Texas Register Updates for March 9 and 16

March 9 The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) announced on behalf of the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) that it has adopted the repeal of §§7.301 – 7.311 and §§7.313 – 7.316 in Chapter 7. The repeal is intended to facilitate the consolidation of rules dealing with volunteer programs and [...]

Federal and State Survey Letters

March 6, 2007 by  
Filed under Nursing Homes, Surveys

There have been several survey and certification letters posted on the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services web site since January. Please click on the titles to download letters in PDF format. Federal Multiple Providers — Medical Gas Storage and Usage Considerations (1/12/07) Publication of the Hospital CoPs: Requirements for H and P; Authentication [...]

Provider Letter: Joint Training Survey Announcement

February 6, 2007 by  
Filed under Other Posts, Surveys

In a new provider letter, the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) has asked assisted living facilities to complete a survey about their needs and preferences for future joint training courses. DADS offers courses to assisted living providers “related to common deficiencies and violations” and other topics of interest. To participate in the [...]

Provider Letter: Joint Training Survey Announcement

In a letter dated May 12, the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) asked providers to participate in an online survey for joint training courses. Based on the survey, DADS will assess the needs of nursing, assisted living, adult day care, and intermediate care facilities when developing joint training courses for long term [...]

The HCSSA Survey Process

December 16, 2005 by  
Filed under Operational Issues, Surveys

The Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services has issued a letter informing Home and Community Support Services Agencies about what they can expect when their agency is surveyed. The letter outlines each stage of the process, including how to begin the informal review of deficiencies, and agency rights and responsibilities. Download a PDF copy [...]

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