On February 27, KHA received notice from the state Office of Inspector General (OIG) that plans of correction in response to an OIG inspection/complaint investigation can no longer contain disclaimer statements. This is effective immediately.

If a facility submits a plan of correction with a disclaimer statement in it, the plan of correction will be considered unacceptable and the facility will be notified accordingly. OIG will not be able to conduct revisits or place a facility back in compliance until an acceptable plan of correction is received.

Sandra Houchen, director of the Division of Health Care for the OIG stated that she understood these disclaimer statements have been a long-term, ongoing practice by facilities in this state and other states. However, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in Region IV has instructed that the state survey agencies are not to accept plans of correction that contain disclaimer statements going forward.