Communications

(March 24, 2023) – On March 9, 2023, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released the long-awaited Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement interpretative guidelines and survey procedures in memorandum QSO-23-09-Hospital. These guidelines are revisions to the State Operations Manual Appendix A for prospective payment system hospitals. This quality, safety and oversight document provides details on what CMS expects during hospital surveys in terms of the scope of the QAPI program, staff education and training, and oversight by hospital governing boards, medical staff and hospital executives. QSO-23-09-Hospital, Appendix A, applies only to prospective payment system hospitals. At this time, neither the Kansas Department of Health and Environment Health Facilities or KHA staff are aware of a date the QAPI Conditions of Participation, Appendix W, will be updated for Critical Access Hospitals.
--Ron Marshall