Revised Quality of Life F-tags

CMS (Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services) recently released several revisions to its Quality of Life F-tags. The revisions under the State Operations Manual, Appendix PP, Guidance for Surveyors went into effect on June 12, 2009 and can be viewed at: http://tinyurl.com/nvnwx5. Apparently, no one told the nursing home in Boca Raton where I was visiting this week. Because of a medical situation involving a client I called the State Ombudsman's office for assistance in resolving the dispute. As a result, when I arrived for a 2pm meeting with the Ombudsman at the administrator's office, I was denied access. I will therefore arm myself now with a copy of the updated regulation which states under tag: 483.10(j)(2) - The facility must provide reasonable access to any resident by any entity or individual that provides health, social, legal, or other services to the resident, subject to the resident's right to deny or withdraw consent at any time and attempt to speak with them again. As my client’s geriatric care manager, I will exercise her right to advocacy.

Many thanks to Elizabeth Peterson, Executive Editor at HCPro, Inc. in Boston for sending me that information.