CMS Pilot Survey Program

Monday, August 12, 2013

On July 11th, AST, ASTS, and UNOS were informed by CMS in a teleconference that they are initiating a pilot program called Focused Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement (FQAPI). This new survey strategy will be rolled out starting on Monday, July 15th, and we're told would involve 10 programs initially. It will follow the standard practice of unannounced notice to selected centers. The CMS official assured us that this start would be a pilot and that there would be no citations or 2567's issued in response to the results. The results will be carefully reviewed internally to address any encountered issues. CMS will reconvene in September to further discuss this project. Note that the transplant community to date has not had any input into the survey instruments.

Please be assured that the AST will follow this new development with the ASTS and UNOS. We respect and support CMS oversight of transplantation compliance and quality care. We will appreciate any input from the programs that are the first targets of the pilot FQAPI survey.

Surveyor Worksheet
CMS Informational Memo