CMS Announces Findings at Kirkland Nursing Home and New Targeted Plan for Healthcare Facility Inspections in light of COVID

Lisa Volk and Jackie Pappalardi in Clinical & Quality

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is announcing the preliminary results of a recent inspection of the Life Care Center nursing home in Kirkland, Washington – the epicenter of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in that state. CMS is prioritizing and suspending certain federal and SSA surveys, and delaying revisit surveys, pursuant to federal requirements for the next three weeks, beginning March 20, 2020, for all certified provider and supplier types. CMS released guidance which includes which types of surveys that will be prioritized and conducted. Also included is a survey tool that will be used for the targeted infection control surveys which is found at the end of the guidance document. See full guidance. 

Press release

https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cms-announces-findings-kirkland-nursing-home-and-new-targeted-plan-healthcare-facility-inspections.

Fact Sheet

https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/kirkland-washington-update-and-survey-prioritization-fact-sheet

Talking points

https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cms-administrator-seema-vermas-remarks-prepared-delivery-updates-healthcare-facility-inspections

NYSHFA/NYSCAL CONTACTS:

Lisa Volk, RN, B.P.S., LNHA
Director, Clinical & Quality Services
518-462-4800 x15

Jackie Pappalardi, RN, BSN
Executive Director
518-462-4800 x16