03/12/2026

You Asked... We Answered

You Asked: Does the baseline care plan have to be updated once it is completed?

We Answered: Yes. The baseline care plan may need to be updated after it is initially completed. As noted in §483.21(a), the purpose of the baseline care plan is to document the interim approaches for meeting the resident’s immediate needs until the comprehensive care plan is developed. Because it guides care during this initial period, professional standards of practice require that the baseline care plan reflects any significant changes in the resident’s condition or needs that occur before the comprehensive care plan is completed.

Facility staff are expected to implement the interventions identified in the baseline care plan to help the resident achieve care goals and address immediate risks. If a resident’s status changes during this interim period, the facility should revise the baseline care plan to ensure the care approaches remain appropriate and current.

Once the comprehensive care plan has been developed and implemented, and the resident or resident representative has received a summary of the updates, the facility is no longer required to revise or update the written summary of the baseline care plan, as the comprehensive care plan becomes the primary document guiding care.