The Department of Health and Human Services’ Office ofInspector General has recently released the new draft compliance guidance fornursing homes.

The draft is the latest update to the compliance programguidance, which was originally published in 2000. It takes into considerationmuch of the feedback the agency received from the nursing home industry thislast January, according to HHS officials. Similarly, the new draft will be openfor comments until June 2. It is currently available for comment on the OIG Website.

The final version, which is due to be released some timethis fall, “will provide voluntary guidelines to assist nursing facilitiesin identifying significant risk areas and in evaluating and, as necessary,refining ongoing compliance efforts,” according to the draft.

To view the draft, go tohttp://www.oig.hhs.gov/fraud/docs/complianceguidance/NurseCPGIIFR.pdf.