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Date Issued
Submitting OIG
Department of Health & Human Services OIG
Other Participating OIGs
Department of Health & Human Services OIG
Agencies Reviewed/Investigated
Department of Health & Human Services
Report Number
A-04-19-08070
Report Description

In 2016, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) updated its life safety and emergency preparedness regulations to improve protections for all Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, including residents of long-term-care facilities (commonly called nursing homes). Updates included requirements that nursing homes have expanded sprinkler systems and smoke detector coverage; an emergency preparedness plan that is reviewed, trained on, tested, and updated at least annually; and provisions for sheltering in place and evacuation.

Report Type
Audit
Location

NC,
United States

Number of Recommendations
6
Questioned Costs
$0
Funds for Better Use
$0

Open Recommendations

This report has 6 open recommendations.
Recommendation Number Significant Recommendation Recommended Questioned Costs Recommended Funds for Better Use Additional Details
269447 No $0 $0

We recommend that the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services follow up with the 18 nursing homes to verify that corrective actions have been taken. regarding the life safety and emergency preparedness deficiencies identified in this report;

269448 No $0 $0

We recommend that the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services work with CMS to develop life safety training for nursing home staff.

269449 No $0 $0

We recommend that the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Service conduct more frequent site surveys at nursing homes with a history of multiple high-risk deficiencies.

269450 No $0 $0

We recommend that the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Service work with LEM agencies to develop a process to monitor the submission of emergency plans.

269463 No $0 $0

5. We recommend that the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services increase collaboration with LEM agencies to: clarify roles and responsibilities; make them aware of pending, or newly licensed, nursing homes in their counties; provide LEM agencies with survey results, to the extent possible, from individual nursing homes to identify specific vulnerabilities.

269464 No $0 $0

6. We recommend that the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services increase collaboration with RHCs and communication with nursing home administrators to ensure nursing homes are aware of resources available to them.

Department of Health & Human Services OIG

United States