CMS Risk-Based Nursing Home Surveys: Sources and Staffing Preparation
A source-based guide to CMS’s September 8, 2026 implementation date and the assignment details facility teams should prepare.
Check the current CMS memo
CMS memo QSO-26-14-NH, dated July 16, 2026, sets September 8, 2026 as the start of nationwide risk-based surveys for eligible nursing homes, based on state survey schedules. Use the latest download on the CMS memo page for implementation details and subsequent changes.
Confirm the process applicable to your facility
The memo includes qualifying and disqualifying criteria. Eligibility does not assure that a facility will receive a risk-based survey; state agencies may use the standard process when health or safety concerns warrant it. Ask facility compliance leadership to verify the applicable process.
Keep staffing preparation practical
Before an assignment, confirm the role, unit, dates, shift times, reporting contact, arrival instructions, orientation, and facility-specific requirements. Share changes through the agreed operational contact. These preparation steps do not establish survey eligibility or guarantee a survey result.
Use the Pennsylvania and federal sources
Pennsylvania’s Department of Health links to state nursing-home laws, regulations, guidance, and federal long-term-care requirements. Facilities remain responsible for compliance and survey readiness. Temporary staffing support does not replace the facility’s compliance process.
