Specifications include, but are not limited to: Vendor will complete an average of seven (7) Federal Complaint Investigation Surveys per month within the agreed upon timeframe between the Vendor and the Agency. It should be noted that multiple complaints may be assigned for one facility. Vendor will complete all survey work using the federally required Automated Survey Processing Environment (ASPEN) Survey Explorer Quality (ASE-Q) system, or its successor iQIES. Vendor will complete all survey work in accordance with any new software, processes, or requirements implemented by CMS. Vendor will meet with the Agency within 5 working days of the contract award to begin developing a work plan for completion of contracted surveys. The Vendor and the Agency will communicate monthly to routinely update the work plan. The Vendor will follow all federal regulations established by CMS, including the parameters of the established Complaint Investigation Survey process. The Vendor is responsible for all aspects of the survey process, including conducting the survey, citing deficient practices in accordance with federal Principles of Documentation, entering all survey time for each surveyor, and producing a final findings report to OHFLAC. The Vendor will submit the final findings report to OHFLAC within 3 workings days following the survey exit conference. The Vendor will submit all supporting documentation gathered during the survey process within 10 working days following the survey exit conference. Vendor shall be responsible for all costs associated with this service. Any anticipated costs may be included in the rates listed on Vendor's bid but such costs will not be paid by the Agency separately. Vendor shall report any Immediate Jeopardy (IJ) immediately upon identification. Vendor shall complete and submit the IJ Worksheet required by CMS to the Agency according to the CMS State Operations Manual Appendix Q. Agency for final approval according to the CMS State Operations Manual Appendix Q. Vendor must refer any enforcement or non-survey related questions from the nursing home to OHFLAC within the same day received. Vendor must notify the Agency via email upon entry and exit for all Complaint Investigation Surveys. Agency’s Duties and Responsibilities The Agency will work with the Vendor to establish a mutually agreed upon schedule for the completion of contracted surveys. The Agency will email the Vendor’s survey team the Federal Complaint Investigation Survey or FICS survey shell from ASPEN. The Agency will be available to the Vendor during the survey process to answer questions and process any IJ situations that occur. The Agency will issue the federally required Statement of Deficiencies to nursing homes, review and approve plans of correction, complete revisit surveys, and process any enforcement actions based on the Vendor’s completed survey outcomes. The Agency will handle any subsequent requests for informal dispute resolution as required by CMS.
