Does Enforcement of Drug Regimen Reviews Improve Medication Safety and Management in Nursing Homes? An Analysis of the CMS Drug Regimen Review Policy

Abstract

In 2019, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) implemented a mandatory comprehensive drug regimen review (DRR) policy in nursing homes (NHs) to address medication-related issues that significantly contribute to morbidity, mortality, hospital readmissions, and escalating healthcare costs among residents. Prior to the policy's implementation, nursing homes frequently faced deficiency citations for medication errors and inadequate drug management practices. This study assesses the policy's impact by comparing trends in deficiency citations before and after the policy enactment, with a particular focus on overall citation prevalence and those specifically related to medication management. Findings from this research offer valuable evidence regarding the effectiveness of the CMS DRR policy in improving medication safety and the quality of care in nursing homes.