The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on Oct. 31 released a revised memo containing minor changes to survey and training protocols during the now nearly month-old federal government shutdown.

In a section on “Trainings on the Quality Safety and Education Portal and the Surveyor Minimum Qualifications Test (SMQT),” CMS added new language to shutdown guidance to state survey agency directors that said:

“Any training activity for which there is an expectation of federal reimbursement is prohibited until funding is restored. However, surveyors may take training, including required trainings and pre-requisites on QSEP, as there is no direct federal reimbursement for those activities. Surveyors may take the SMQT test, as it supports the state’s overall health and safety oversight capacity and does not incur a direct federal expense.”

There was another minor change to a survey section on revisit surveys. Read the complete CMS memo at https://tinyurl.com/5fnrsmyf.

Comments or questions, contact Patrick Connole at pconnole@parkplacelive.com