CMS issues updated immediate jeopardy guidance

Becker's Healthcare December 6, 2024
Patsy Newitt

CMS has issued updated guidance for surveyors and healthcare providers on addressing immediate jeopardy, the most severe type of noncompliance warning as the findings can place organizations at risk of losing federal funding.

Surveyors rely on CMS’ Core Appendix Q guidance to evaluate all provider and supplier types when determining if an immediate jeopardy citation is warranted. The guidance underwent further updates to “clarify and increase consistency in identifying immediate jeopardy,” CMS noted in its November memo.

Here are four significant updates to the guidance:

1. Clarifying the threshold for immediate jeopardy

Immediate jeopardy citations now require a “likelihood” of serious injury, harm, impairment or death if noncompliance is not corrected.

CMS defines “likelihood” as a “reasonable expectation” that...

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