Poor Performing Nursing Homes Not Included in Federal Program

A report being released today by the Government Accountability Office finds that the federal program designed to identify and scrutinize the country’s worse nursing homes is missing many of the poor performers. The Centers for Medical and Medicaid Services has identified about 136 nursing homes nationwide that are considered “special focus facilities” for their history of problems related to patient care, but many more questionable facilities are not making the list.

Herb Kohl, the chairman of the Senate Aging Committee wants more information about all of the poorest performing facilities on the government website Nursing Home Compare. The current report does not identify the homes.

“If far more than 136 nursing homes boast the bleakest conditions, then perhaps we should consider expanding” the program, said Kohl.

The GAO report also suggests modifying the methods used to identify the worst performing nursing facilities, since differing criteria are used in the various states. Comparing the homes on a national standard would ensure that resources go to inspecting the nursing homes that need the most attention.

To read the entire GAO report click here (.pdf).

Source: AP

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