Transition for QAN (Quality Assurance Nurse) Program in Washington's Nursing Homes

ALTSA has recently announced in a Dear Administrator letter changes to the long-standing QAN program. 

Effective July 8, 2013:

• QANs will focus only on mandatory Case-Mix Accuracy Review (CMAR) work related to the NH Medicaid payment system.
• Thirteen of the eighteen QAN positions will be moved to full-time NH survey/investigation work and will no longer function in the QAN role.
• The five remaining QANs will be exclusively focused on CMAR.  CMAR will be managed from RCS headquarters, rather than under District Field Managers.  QAN assignments & coverage areas are yet to be determined.

Federal statute and federal performance standards require NH inspection intervals to be no greater than 15 months, with a statewide average of twelve months.  The addition of QANs who are QIS trained will assist in meeting this mandate.