Home Health Agency Manual for Medicare Survey and Certification

CMS has moved survey and certification material into the new CMS online manual system and eliminated the corresponding material from the paper-based manuals. During this conversion the Medicare State Operations Manual, which is the source for the material found in the Provider’s Guide, was revised. All letters and instructions, including detailed instructions on surveying for OASIS compliance, that were issued by CMS to state survey agencies over the past several years have been incorporated into the online State Operations Manual. The Provider’s Guide includes selected sections of the State Operations Manual (the manual used by surveyors) covering the survey and certification process and explaining how to challenge deficiencies and develop plans of correction. The manual also contains the 2005 updated Guidance to Surveyors, an essential tool for all home health agencies.