CMS Updates, Expands Guidance on Identifying and Citing Immediate Jeopardy

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has released new guidance that surveyors of all provider and supplier types can use to identify and cite immediate jeopardy, according to a March 5, 2019, CMS memorandum. CMS has also drafted guidance that focuses on nursing homes, which has specific policies regarding immediate jeopardy. Immediate jeopardy can be cited when a patient or resident has suffered or is likely to suffer serious injury, harm, impairment, or death as a result of a provider's, supplier's, or laboratory's noncompliance with health and safety requirements.