The Health & Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) announced in a June 16 work plan update its intention to evaluate the engagement of medical directors in nursing homes.

“Monitoring Nursing Homes’ Engagement of Medical Directors” will examine 1) the extent to which medical directors performed required duties in nursing homes, 2) the extent to which payroll-based journal (PBJ) data on medical director hours are accurate and useful for oversight, and 3) opportunities to improve oversight and transparency of nursing homes’ engagement and funding of medical directors. The report is expected to be issue in Fiscal Year 2026.

LeadingAge notes that this evaluation comes at a time when the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is also tightening accountability on medical directors through updates to the long-term care surveyor guidance in Appendix PP of the State Operations Manual in which medical directors’ responsibilities are more closely linked to prescribing practices, specifically those of psychotropic medications, and accuracy of assessments including appropriate diagnosis of schizophrenia.

Check out this and all active items on the OIG work plan here.