- (a) Minimum qualifications. Surveyors must meet minimum qualifications prescribed by CMS. Before any accrediting organization, State or Federal surveyor may serve on a hospice survey team (except as a trainee), he/she must have successfully completed the relevant CMS-sponsored Basic Hospice Surveyor Training Course, and additional training as specified by CMS.
(b) Disqualifications. Surveyor(s) must disclose actual or perceived conflicts of interest prior to participating in a hospice program survey and be provided the opportunity to recuse themselves as necessary. Any of the following circumstances disqualifies a surveyor from surveying a particular hospice program:
(1) The surveyor currently serves, or, within the previous 2 years has served, with the hospice program to be surveyed as one of the following:
- (i) A direct employee.
- (ii) An employment agency staff at the hospice program.
- (iii) An officer, consultant, or agent for the hospice program to be surveyed concerning compliance with conditions of participation specified in or in accordance with sections 1861(dd) of the Act.
- (2) The surveyor has a financial interest or an ownership interest in the hospice program to be surveyed.
- (3) The surveyor has an immediate family member, as defined at § 411.351 of this chapter, who has a financial interest or an ownership interest with the hospice program to be surveyed.
- (4) The surveyor has an immediate family member, as defined at § 411.351 of this chapter, who is a patient of the hospice program to be surveyed.