CMS requires nursing facilities to establish a Compliance and Ethics Committee. The following are required components for the committee with one exception:
1) establish written compliance and ethics standards and policies and procedures aimed at reducing the potential of criminal, civil, and administrative violations
2) provide sufficient resources and authority to specific individuals to reasonably assure compliance to facility standards, policies, and procedures
3) have designated compliance officer who must report directly to the facility administrator and not be subordinate to general council
4) compliance and ethics must be reviewed annually and revised as needed to reflect changes in all applicable laws or regulations