CMS updates ‘special focus facilities’ list

Fifteen newly listed nursing homes have 18 to 24 months to improve their performance, receive an extension to do so or face expulsion from the Medicare and Medicaid programs, according to the latest list of “special focus facilities” (SFFs) posted online by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

The CMS effort aims to improve the quality of care at identified facilities so that it reaches the level required by the agency. Nursing homes on the SFF list, according to CMS, have “a record of poor survey (inspection) performance” and receive special attention from the federal agency. Most nursing homes, the agency says, may have six or seven deficiencies per survey, but SFF homes have about twice the average number of problems; more serious issues, including harm or injury of residents; and a pattern of serious problems that has lasted for a long time.

The 15 newly identified skilled nursing facilities or nursing facilities span 14 states and join 16 others previously listed that have not improved related to identified deficiencies, 23 that have shown some improvement, 33 that have successfully addressed issues that made them part of the SFF Initiative, and four that no longer are eligible to receive Medicare or Medicaid funding.

Related article: How to challenge a survey

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