Ask the legal expert … about contracted state surveyors
By
Norris Cunningham
Mar 04, 2024
I read that the Office of Inspector General is going to audit CMS oversight of states’ use of contractors to conduct nursing home surveys. Why is this needed?
Ask the legal expert: A break from surveys might feel good, but isn’t this extremely dangerous?
By
Norris Cunningham
May 01, 2022
Q: I understand state surveys of skilled nursing providers are incredibly backlogged. A break from surveys might feel good, but isn’t this extremely dangerous?
The elephant in the room: Are you prepared for the next emergency?
By
Angela Rinehart
Norris Cunningham
Sep 30, 2022
Historically, emergency preparedness programs in long-term care facilities have been less prioritized, with facilities understandably focusing on patient care and operations. But with the pandemic...
One interview away from infection control CMPs?
By
Norris Cunningham
Kathryn Cordell
May 19, 2021
With the roll out of vaccines and slowing rates of COVID-19 infections, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has not shifted its survey focus away from infection control. Instead, the agency released...
Ask the Legal Expert … about emergency preparedness
By
Norris Cunningham
May 03, 2023
I understand that state surveyors will begin focusing more on emergency preparedness. Why so much attention on this issue now?
Ask the legal expert … about antipsychotic scrutiny
By
Norris Cunningham
Apr 10, 2023
Q: The use of antipsychotic drugs in nursing homes is already a publicly reported quality measure. Are we headed toward even more scrutiny? A: Yes, more scrutiny is coming. In February, the Department...
HHS enforces early COVID-19 infection control penalties despite ambiguities
By
Norris Cunningham
Angela Rinehart
Jan 21, 2022
Infection control penalties upheld against the facility with the first known COVID-19 outbreak reinforce need for implementation – not just policy.
Ask the legal expert … about the Talevski case
By
Norris Cunningham
Sep 12, 2023
Why is everyone so concerned about the Supreme Court case allowing resident rights cases against state-operated facilities?
An update on President Biden’s initiatives for long-term care
By
Angela Rinehart
Norris Cunningham
Jul 25, 2022
President Joe Biden gave his State of the Union address on March 1, 2022. Markedly, he announced his intention to “set higher standards for nursing homes” to “make sure your loved ones get the care...
While staffing shortages have plagued the long-term care industry for quite some time, the coronavirus pandemic has certainly shone a spotlight on the issue and worsened it. At the start of...