This regulation requires nursing facilities to ensure residents who use prosthetic devices receive appropriate care, assistance, and support to wear and use their prostheses consistent with professional standards and each resident's person-centered care plan. Facilities are not required to purchase prosthetics but must help residents access available resources to obtain needed devices. Surveyors assess prosthesis fit, condition, skin integrity at contact sites, and whether residents are actually using their devices.
View official sourceF696 (Rev. 173, Issued: 11-22-17, Effective: 11-28-17, Implementation: 11-28-17) §483.25(j) Prostheses The facility must ensure that a resident who has a prosthesis is provided care and assistance, consistent with professional standards of practice, the comprehensive person-centered care plan, the residents’ goals and preferences, to wear and be able to use the prosthetic device. GUIDANCE §483.25(j) The non-availability of program funding does not relieve a facility of its obligation to ensure that its residents receive all needed services listed in §1819(b)(4)(A) of the Social Security Act for Medicare and §1919(b)(4)(A) of the Act for Medicaid. For services not covered under Medicare or Medicaid, a facility is required to assist the resident in securing any available resources to obtain the needed services. This requirement does not mean that the facility must purchase or provide funding for the prosthetic. PROBES §483.25(j) Refer to appropriate sections of the RAI/MDS, as applicable. For residents selected for review, as appropriate: • Is resident able to apply the prosthesis by himself/herself or with some assistance? • Are residents wearing their prostheses? • Does the prosthesis fit correctly? • Is skin/mucous membrane in contact with the prosthesis free of abrasions, wounds, irritation? • Is the prosthesis in good condition and functioning as intended? • Is the prosthesis in need of repair?