Federal Monitoring Surveys Demonstrate Continued Understatement of Serious Care Problems & CMS Oversight Weaknesses
May 2008 The Government Accountability Office (GAO) evaluated the effectiveness of nursing home surveys conducted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). GAO was also asked to evaluate CMS oversight of the survey program. GAO reviewed the results of federal monitoring surveys over a five-year period from 2002 to 2007, reviewed CMS guidance for the survey program, and interviewed officials. GAO found that the surveys generally understated serious care problems and deficiencies. The most frequently missed deficiency was poor quality of care, which includes ensuring proper nutrition and hydration and preventing pressure sores . . .
