CMS S&C Memo - New Dining Standards

On March 1, CMS released S&C 13-13-NH with information about new dining standards and practice resources being made available. 

The new dining standards address issues including expanding dining, therapeutic diets, food consistency, thickened liquids and tube feedings.  The memo notes that, “Research presented revealed little benefit to many older individuals with chronic conditions from restrictions in dietary sugar and sodium, as well as little benefit from tube feedings, pureed diets, and thickened liquids.  The new standards recommend to clinicians and prescribers that a regular diet become the default with only a small number of individuals needing restrictions.”

While CMS notes that the new practice standards do not represent CMS requirements, they encourage surveyors to be aware of these changes as Quality of Care compliance is to be reviewed based on standards of practice.  They also state that, “Surveyors should not issue deficiency citations simply because a facility is not following these particular recommended practices.  However, facilities that opt to adhere to these practice standards may rely on such adherence in response to questions regarding any changes from more restrictive diet protocols previously used.”

The memo provides links to the new dining practice standards (http://www.pioneernetwork.net/Data/Documents/NewDiningPracticeStandards.pdf)
and a surveyor training video (http://surveyortraining.cms.hhs.gov/pubs/VideoInformation.aspx?cid=1101).