State Survey Agency Processes for Overseeing Nursing Home Preparedness

Historically, nursing homes have experienced challenges preparing for and responding to emergencies. To address these challenges, HHS has taken steps to bolster nursing home emergency preparedness and response through regulations such as CMS's Conditions of Participation (CoPs). However, prior OIG reviews and continued challenges during recent emergencies have highlighted gaps, including gaps related to State Survey Agency (SA) reviews of nursing home adherence to the CoPs. This evaluation will determine: (1) what processes SAs use to oversee nursing home emergency preparedness; (2) what promising practices, challenges, and/or limitations exist within those processes; and (3) how CMS or other HHS agencies can best support SAs.

Announced or Revised	Agency	Title	Component	Report Number(s)	Expected Issue Date (FY)
Completed	Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services	State Survey Agency Processes for Overseeing Nursing Home Preparedness	Office of Evaluation and Inspections	OEI-04-23-00030	2025