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Re-visits |
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Historically, surveyors continue to find at least some level of noncompliance whenever they physically revisit a facility. Since many facilities which have been subject to only one revisit, and thereafter were found in compliance based on plans of correction, will now be subject to repeated revisits, this raises the likelihood that facilities will be viewed as out of compliance for longer periods since a facility's initial survey results, not the survey results found during a subsequent revisit, will dictate whether a subsequent revisit for non compliance is required. In addition, in recent months, some CMS (HCFA) regions have refused to authorize more than two revisits to a facility. Thus, a facility which has continuing deficiencies on its first revisit, and is not able to convince surveyors that it has obtained compliance on a second revisit, may be facing possible termination from the Medicare programs. It is imperative that the facility be prepared during the correction period and not allow a worsening of the condition to occur during that time. The correction period is a very limited time period in most cases and action must be taken quickly. When there is compelling reason to believe that the noncompliance worsened or deteriorated during the correction period, further investigation of that period is being done. In this case inaction could become a major issue. CMS (HCFA) have stressed that facilities must not wait for the survey process to identify and correct problems and that each facility is expected to have an effective quality assurance system. In fact, the 4th element of an acceptable plan of correction requires that this be done by the facility. When the level of noncompliance becomes more serious before it is successfully corrected, it represents a failure on the part of the facility and is invariably be documented and addressed through enforcement. Pennhurst Group is prepared to act quickly and decisively to insure that:
Please contact today to avoid any problems with revisits. We are available on a 24 hour a day basis, including weekends. Email us at info@behavioralassessments.com today
Pennhurst Group, LLC, Suite 250, 300 N. Pottstown Pike Exton, Pennsylvania 19341 610-524-2400 Extension 15 Fax 610-524-0952 Email: info@pennhurstgroup.com Copyright © 2001 Pennhurst Group, LLC
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