MHA Staff Contact: Sharon Burnett

A report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General finds state survey agencies need to improve their tracking of serious hospital errors, including suicide and other adverse events. OIG recommends that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services require all immediate jeopardy complaint surveys to evaluate compliance with the quality assessment and performance improvement Conditions of Participation. OIG also suggests that CMS ensure state agencies monitor hospitals’ corrective actions for sustained improvements, amend guidance on disclosure to explain the nature of complaints to hospitals and improve communication with accreditors.