Changes to COVID-19 Survey Activities and Increased Oversight in Nursing Homes

• CMS remains committed to taking critical steps to protect vulnerable Americans to ensure the nation’s health care facilities are prepared to respond to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Public Health Emergency (PHE). • CMS is announcing steps to assist State Survey Agencies (SAs) in addressing the backlog of complaint and recertification surveys. These steps include: o Revising the criteria for conducting COVID-19 Focused Infection Control (FIC) Surveys; o Guidance for resuming recertification surveys; and o Temporary guidance and minor flexibilities related to complaint investigations. • CMS is increasing oversight in nursing homes to allow a more focused review of quality-of-life and quality-of-care concerns.