The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has release new proposed regulations that would implement the first major rewrite of the long-term care Conditions of Participation in over 25 years. The proposed regulations were published on On July 13, 2015 in proposed form and are subject to a 60 day comment period before CMS issues them in final form. It is possible that CMS would revise the proposed rules based on input from the public duringthe comment period.
By changing nursing home regulations, CMS intends to improve the quality of care and safety affecting long-term care residents. The proposed changes would implement a number of safeguards including some protections that were required under the Affordable Care Act.
Providers involved in the nursing home industry should study the proposed regulations and may wish to provide comments to CMS to be addressed prior to finalization of the proposed regulations. Some of the items addressed in the proposed regulations include:
– Regulations regarding reduction of unnecessary hospital readmissions and infections
-increased quality of resident care
– New requirements to assure training of nursing home staff
– increased focus on patients with dementia and prevention of elder abuse.
– New rules regarding staffing decisions.
– Rules that help assure that staff members have the right skill sets and competencies to provide person-centered care to residents.
– Increased emphasis on resident preferences when developing care plans.
– Improvements to the process of care planning and discharge planning
– Increased authority of dietitians and therapy providers to write orders in their areas of expertise subject to physician delegatino and state law compliance.
– Requiring greater food choice for residents.
– Updating of infection prevention and control programs and establishment of new requirements for infection prevention and control.
– Enhancement of nursing home resident rights
More details can be obtained by reviewing the proposed regulations. We will be issuing additional updates regarding topics that are covered in the proposed regulations as we review the proposal in greated depth.
