Regulatory guidelines for bladder management in long-term care: are you in compliance with F-Tag 315?

In 2005, the US Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services established new guidelines for bladder management in long-term care. The key elements of the new regulations include appropriate use and management of indwelling catheters, individualized assessment and management of individuals with lower urinary tract dysfunction or incontinence, and evidence-based management of urinary tract infections. A specific expectation is that incontinent residents who are ambulatory with assistance and who respond to cues to void should be placed on a toileting program and not simply placed in absorptive products. This article provides specific guidelines for the implementation of the new regulations for bladder management in long-term care.