42 CFR § 488.725 - Unannounced surveys.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t42/s488.725"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "42 CFR § 488.725 - Unannounced surveys."
title_number: 42
title_name: "Public Health"
section_number: "488.725"
section_name: "Unannounced surveys."
chapter_name: "CENTERS FOR MEDICARE & MEDICAID SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES"
subchapter_number: "G"
subchapter_name: "STANDARDS AND CERTIFICATION"
part_number: "488"
part_name: "SURVEY, CERTIFICATION, AND ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "42 U.S.C 1302 and 1395hh."
regulatory_source: "53 FR 22859, June 17, 1988, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "488"
---


# 488.725 Unannounced surveys.

(a) *Basic rule.* All HHA surveys must be unannounced and conducted with procedures and scheduling that renders the onsite surveys as unpredictable in their timing as possible.

(b) *State survey agency's scheduling and surveying procedures.* CMS reviews each survey agency's scheduling and surveying procedures and practices to assure that the survey agency has taken all reasonable steps to avoid giving notice of a survey through the scheduling procedures and conduct of the surveys.

(c) *Civil money penalties.* Any individual who notifies an HHA, or causes an HHA to be notified, of the time or date on which a standard survey is scheduled to be conducted is subject to a Federal civil money penalty not to exceed $2,000 as adjusted annually under 45 CFR part 102.

[77 FR 67164, Nov. 8, 2012, as amended at 81 FR 61563, Sept. 6, 2016]