On January 18th, CMS posted QSO Memo 23-05-NH with two purposes: to reduce the inappropriate use of antipsychotic medications in nursing homes and to bring greater transparency about nursing home citations to families. In the four-page memo, CMS outlines increasing concerns with residents being diagnosed erroneously with schizophrenia and prescribed unnecessary antipsychotic medications. Effective immediately, CMS will conduct offsite audits to assess the accuracy of Minimum Data Set (MDS) data and the organization’s evidence for appropriately documenting, assessing, and coding a diagnosis of schizophrenia in for residents. The Memo explains the process for the audit and then the changes to the Quality Measures (QM) as adjusted on Nursing Home Care Compare. The Memo also addresses how CMS will now post citations that a facility receives regardless of whether they are under IDR/IIDR. Nursing Home Care Compare will indicate if a citation is under dispute. The citations will not be included in the calculation of the facility’s star rating until the dispute is complete.
