Special Focus Facility Change Now In Effect

This month, CMS is making an important change to the provider preview that nursing homes can receive in their folders on five-star nursing home quality rating system. In response to a suggestion from the Government Accountability Office, we are notifying nursing homes in each state (with the exception of Alaska and the District of Columbia) if they are among the 15 worst-scoring nursing homes (i.e, with a rank of 1-15) in the state. These nursing homes are candidates for the Special Focus Facility program. Please note that we are notifying the nursing homes individually. We are not currently planning to distribute the list publicly.

Below is the language used in the provider preview report that SFF candidates will receive. Nursing Homes that are not SFF candidates will continue to receive the provider preview report that they have previously received. Language included in Provider Preview Reports in the top 15:

IMPORTANT MESSAGE: Your health inspection score currently makes you a candidate for the Special Focus Facility Program. Please note that this does not necessarily mean that your nursing home will be selected for the Special Focus Facility program. For more information about the program, please go to: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/CertificationandComplianc/12_NHs.asp.

IMPORTANT HELPLINE NOTE: Helpline staff are available to answer calls this month. Helpline hours of operation are 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM EST, M-F, April 14th through April 29th.


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