A long-anticipated set of rules on how dialysis providers can provide treatments to patients living in skilled nursing facilities and nursing homes was released by CMS on Aug. 10 as part of an update to guidelines used by Medicare surveyors to inspect dialysis facilities.

Revisions to the State Operations Manual were released to state survey agencies by David Wright, the director of the Quality, Safety and Oversight Group at CMS, and are effective immediately with no further changes. In addition to the nursing home guidelines, the revisions cover basic requirements for operating a dialysis facility, including definitions of modality types, guidelines for establishing a home dialysis training center, addition of stations, expansion of services and temporary closures; infection control considerations; and rules regarding medical director waiver considerations.