Earlier this week, the Division of Quality Assurance (DQA) advised WHCA/WiCAL that the Agency has contracted with the firm Healthcare Management Solutions (HMS), to assist the Agency with performing nursing facility and hospital surveys.

DQA’s contract with HMS is effective as of September 1, 2022.

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DQA’s decision to contract out some of the survey function to HMS is intended to help the Agency reduce its survey backlog. DQA also expects to contract with a second firm in the very near future. DQA has indicated to WHCA/WiCAL that HMS surveyors will function as DQA’s authorized agents and, therefore, will have the same access to facilities and to facility information as DQA in house surveyors.

For more information on HMS,  HMS Healthcare and Technology Services – HMS (hcmsllc.com) .

DQA will be issuing a formal bulletin shortly. However, given the September 1st effective date, WHCA/WiCAL staff decided that it was important and necessary to let members immediately know of this development. We will continue to monitor this issue closely and will provide additional information to members as we learn more about the details of DQA’s contracted survey services.