Health officials on Tuesday issued new voluntary guidelines for nursing homes to help them avert fraud and abuse in the Medicaid, Medicare and other federal healthcare programs. The 17-page long document was published in the Federal Register and complements guidance issued in 2000.

The updated guidance was designed to help provider compliance officers better manage resident safety, staffing, resident care plans and medication management, among other topics. It was announced by Health and Human Services Inspector General Daniel R. Levinson, who said it “reflects the OIG’s increased focus on quality of care for nursing home residents.”

The guidance assists providers in developing, implementing and evaluating their compliance programs. For more, visit http://vocusgr.vocus.com/VocusGR/Url.aspx?185x3527652x3493612.