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Get ready for your Medicare survey: understanding the new interpretive guidelines.

A Medicare survey can be a nail-biting experience for home health agency (HHA) management and staff, but understanding the government's new and changed requirements and the survey process can significantly decrease the stress. Although only 15 Conditions of Participation (COPs) are involved, the survey covers nearly 100 pages of interpretive guidelines, which were revised in transmittal 21 of the State Operations Manual in October 2000. Most agencies were too busy with the new prospective payment system (PPS) requirements to give much attention to these guidelines now being used by surveyors. A succinct review of the major changes and additions may help agencies focus on areas important for their particular situation.