We examine how the federal shutdown disrupts nursing home oversight, why CMS triaged surveys to emergencies, and the risks created by fewer inspectors and furloughed staff. We share steps facilities can take to protect residents, drawing lessons from the OIG’s pandemic report.

• status of the shutdown and date context
• CMS priorities for complaint investigations and revisits
• suspension of recertification and initial surveys
• state surveyor staffing gaps and missed annual surveys
• risks from reduced oversight, abuse and neglect concerns
• lessons from the June 2024 OIG report
• contingency planning for monitoring, QAPI and communication
• expectations for future cause-and-effect reporting