OIG: Alabama Did Not Always Verify Selected Nursing Homes’ Compliance With Background Check Requirements

Report number: A-04-24-08104 Report Materials Why OIG Did This Audit What OIG Found Alabama did not ensure, for the audit period of January 1, 2022, to April 8, 2024, that some of the nursing homes reviewed in our sample complied with Federal and State requirements that prohibit the employment of …

iQIES S&C Provider Electronic Plan of Correction (ePOC) Administrator Role User Manual

This user manual addresses the processes necessary to perform Survey & Certification (S&C) Electronic Plan of Correction (ePOC) functions in iQIES. CMS iQIES S&C User Manual: ePOC – Provider ePOC Admin Role v1.2 (Posted 07/22/2025) From https://qtso.cms.gov/software/iqies/reference-manuals

Safe Injection, Infusion, Medication Vial, and Point-of-Care Testing Practices in Healthcare (2025)

The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) has released an updated position paper titled “Safe Injection, Infusion, Medication Vial, and Point-of-Care Testing Practices in Health care (2025),” published in the American Journal of Infection Control (AJIC). This update builds upon APIC’s 2016 position paper and reflects advancements in science, updated regulatory …

LTCSP Survey Resources: Surveyor Tools Updated

This ZIP file contains resources for surveyors conducting initial surveys under the Long-term Care Survey Process (LTCSP). It is a one-stop shop containing a multitude of reference materials that are provided to the surveyors going into facilities, including, for example, a document detailing their principles of documentation, a document showing …

New Revisions to State Operations Manual (SOM), Appendix PP

Revisions to State Operations Manual (SOM), Appendix PP NOTE: Transmittal 231, of the State Operations Manual, Pub. 100-07 dated,  July 9, 2025, has been rescinded and replaced with Transmittal 232, dated,  July 23, 2025. The revisions are being made to implement technical changes.  All other material in this instruction remains …

Prepared and Compliant: A Proactive Approach to Enteral Feeding Care Management

The director of nursing services (DNS) is preparing for her first annual survey. She wants to take a proactive approach regarding facility residents with enteral feedings. However, as a relatively new DNS, she is unsure where to begin. Sound familiar? This article will provide a process to assist the DNS …

Five-Star Technical User’s Guide Plus Claims-Based Measures Appendix (Updated)

CMS created the Five-Star Quality Rating System to help consumers, their families, and caregivers compare nursing homes more easily. The Nursing Home Compare Web site features a quality rating system that gives each nursing home a rating of between 1 and 5 stars. Nursing homes with 5 stars are considered …

Payroll-Based Journal (PBJ) Policy Manual V2.7

This manual provides general background and information about the submission requirements, such as sample submission screens, submission deadlines, and definitions of job categories. Note: Changes from the previous version of this policy manual are identified in red/italics. PBJ Policy Manual Final – V2.7 – 06.30.2025 (PDF) From https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Quality-Initiatives-Patient-Assessment-Instruments/NursingHomeQualityInits/Staffing-Data-Submission-PBJ