CMS Upgrades Initial Medicare Certification Priority of Nursing Facilities

VHCA (3/14/2008)

On March 7 the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced they have upgraded initial Medicare certification inspections of nursing facilities from Tier 4 to Tier 3.  This amends the Survey and Certification memorandum issued in November 2007 which identified initial Medicare certification inspections of nursing facilities as the lowest priority for state survey agencies.  Last week's memorandum cited Congressional approval of part of the increase for Medicare Survey and Certification functions requested in the President's FY 2008 budget as the primary reason for making this change.