Division of Certification
The Division of Certification surveys health facilities that participate in the Medicare and Medicaid programs, including nursing homes and facilities for the mentally retarded. These facilities are surveyed with unannounced site visits. Survey teams include nurses, pharmacists, social workers, dieticians, qualified mental retardation professionals and generalists. The Division is divided into four program areas, each concerned with respective Medicare/Medicaid Standards and Conditions of Participation. These Standards and Conditions are expressed as Federal regulations, and are available from:
National Technical Information Service
U.S. Department of Commerce
5285 Port Royal Road
Springfield, VA 22161
(708)487-4600
Medicare and Medicaid Certified Nursing Home Comparison - The primary purpose of this tool is to provide detailed information about the performance of every Medicare and Medicaid certified nursing home in the country.
Long Term Care Program
The Long Term Care Program surveys Nursing Facilities and Skilled Nursing Facilities (NF/SNF) for compliance with Medicare/Medicaid Standards and Conditions of Participation, expressed as Enforcement Regulations under 42 CFR. Surveyors are Registered Nurses, Social Workers, Pharmacists, Dieticians, and Generalists.
- Appendix I - Guidelines for Completion of Fire Safety Reports, Interpretive Guidelines for Life Safety Code Surveys
- Appendix P - Survey Protocol for Long-Term Care Facilities (42 CFR 483 Subpart B)
- Appendix PP- Guidance to Surveyors for Long Term Care Facilities
- Appendix Q - Guidelines for Determining Immediate and Serious Threat to Patient Health and Safety
- Appendix R - Resident Assessment for Long-Term Care Facilities
Contact Person: Gail Goode, (803) 545-4205.
Nurse Aide Abuse Registry Program
The Nurse Aide Abuse Registry Program is responsible for placing Certified Nurse Aides with substantiated allegations of abuse, neglect or misappropriation of resident property, and/or findings in a court of law on the Abuse Registry of the South Carolina Nurse Aide Registry. The national Nurse Aide Registry can be found here.
Contact Person: Ruth Rush
Intermediate Care Facilities for the Mentally Retarded (ICF/MR) Program
The Intermediate Care Facilities for the Mentally Retarded (ICF/MR) Program surveys intermediate care facilities for the mentally retarded. Surveyors meet professional qualifications of the designation Qualified Mental Retardation Professional (QMRP).
Contact Person: Gene Baughman Program Coordinator, (803) 545-4205.
Complaint Program
The Complaint Program has a special staff of surveyors who go to facilities for the express purpose of investigating complaints. The same basic survey process is used as for the regular surveys, but with a focus on the complaint.
If you would like to register a complaint against a Nursing Home, an ICF/MR, Physical Therapists in Independent Practice, Occupational Therapists in Independent Practice, Comprehensive Outpatient Rehabilitation Facilities, Ambulatory Surgery Centers, Community Mental Health Centers, Hospital, Home Health Agency (the Home Health Hot Line is 1-800-922-6735 for concern about a Home Health Agency) , End Stage Renal Disease Facility, Rehabilitation Agency, Rural Health Clinic, or Hospice, please click below to contact us by E-mail. Please give us the facility name and the full details of your concern.
- Timeframes for Reporting (Long Term Care Facilities)
- Conducting a Thorough Investigation (pdf)
- Initial 24-Hour Report (pdf)
- Five-Day Follow-up Report (pdf)
Complaints
- All Facilities - Omnibus Adult Protection Act Section §43-35-5
- Long Term Care Facilities - 42CFR (Code of Federal Regulations)
- 483 Subpart B - Abuse - §483.13
- Anti-dumping Rule Violations: COBRA EMTALA:
- Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985
- Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act
- 42CFR 484.20 and 24
Contact Persons: Ruth Rush
MDS & OASIS
Medicare Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessment instrument information. OASIS (Outcome and Assessment Information Set).
The regulation requiring the automation and transmission of the resident assessment instrument for Nursing homes was published and final in the Federal Register on December 23rd, 1997.
This regulation requires nursing facilities to use a designated Assessment Instrument (MDS 2.0, 1/30/98) and to transmit the assessment data to the state repository.
The Long Term Care Facility Resident Assessment Instrument User's Manual can be found here.
If assistance is needed contact Margaret Rummell by email or call (803) 545-4205.