Nursing Home Regulations Redefined: Implications for Providers

Abstract

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized a comprehensive update to nursing home requirements of participation in October 2016. Nearly 10,000 public comments were received regarding the proposed rule, and CMS made multiple modifications based on comments from providers, advocacy organizations, and others before issuing the final rule. The final rule describing nursing home requirements of participation modernizes nursing home regulation. It is being implemented in three phases—beginning in November 2016, November 2017, and November 2019. There are multiple provisions that have implications for clinicians caring for nursing home residents, particularly in terms of management of infections, medication prescribing and monitoring, and delegation of medical orders.