Risk-Based Survey Icon to Start Appearing Oct. 8

CMS said in a new memo its “High Performing Facility Icon” will start appearing on the Nursing Home Care Compare website on Oct. 8. The gold trophy icon identifies facilities that qualify for the Risk-Based Survey (RBS).

“These nursing homes have fewer citations [safety violations], higher staffing levels, and other quality indicators,” CMS said in a memo.

In addition, CMS had a pair of technical clarifications in its September update to the Design for Care Compare Nursing Home Five-Star Quality Rating System: Technical Users’ Guide.

1 - Deficiencies cited during a revisit survey are attributed to the initial survey date. This initial survey date will determine whether deficiencies must be duplicated for rating purposes.

2 - When CMS downgrades a facility for staffing-related deficiencies, these downgrades will take effect during the monthly Nursing Home Care Compare update after the response deadline passes or discrepancies are identified. The downgrade period may be extended if repeat audits identify the same problem.

Three Park Place articles explaining the RBS are here, here, and here.

Comments or questions? Contact Patrick Connole at pconnole@parkplacelive.com