AGING AND DISABILITY SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

2009 NH "Dear Administrator" Letters

February 18, 2009

ADSA: NH #2009-003   
Revised Guidance for F-tag 309 (Quality of Care)

Dear Nursing Facility/Home Administrator:

The purpose of this letter is to let you know the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued an advance copy of guidance revisions for F-tag 309, Quality of Care.  The changes will become effective March 31, 2009.

Here are highlights of the guidance:

• Added a new general investigative protocol for quality of care;
• Added new guidance and investigative protocol for pain management;
• Moved the survey protocol language regarding review of residents receiving hospice care and dialysis services into F-tag 309.
• Removed the weight loss investigative protocol from Appendix P.

• Removed guidance requiring paper copy storage of Minimum Data Set (MDS) in homes with electronic records at F-tag 286; and
• Removed demand billing survey process at Appendix P, Part VII and inserted new procedure at Task 5C.

You may access the Survey and Certification letter and attachments issued by CMS at the following link:  http://www.cms.hhs.gov/SurveyCertificationGenInfo/downloads/SCletter09-22.pdf

Sincerely,

Joyce Pashley Stockwell, Director
Residential Care Services