Grassley Applauds New Watch List for Quality of Nursing Home Care
Press Release
GRASSLEY APPLAUDS NEW WATCH LIST FOR QUALITY OF NURSING HOME CARE
Senator had asked for public notification of poor performing nursing homes
Senator Chuck Grassley today said that the creation of a public watch list to alert consumers and their families of poor performing nursing homes is a victory for transparency and accountability.
In July, Grassley asked the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to create a watch list to alert the public about nursing homes nationwide that have repeatedly failed federal health and safety standards. In his request, Grassley cited findings by the Government Accountability Office. Today's actions are a result of Grassley's request.
"Many nursing homes continue to yo-yo in and out of compliance with the minimum requirements of care. The new public watch list gives consumers important information on the quality they or their loved one might receive. It also provides great incentive for nursing homes to get off the list," Grassley said.
Grassley has long worked to improve the quality of care provided in nursing homes. As Chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Aging during the late 1990s, he conducted an oversight effort that resulted in the launch of the "Nursing Home Initiative" by the federal agency then known as the Health Care Financing Administration. The goal of the initiative was strong federal standards and steadfast enforcement by federal and state officials. Since the launch of the Nursing Home Initiative, Grassley has frequently asked the GAO to provide status reports on the progress made in holding homes accountable for the quality of care provided to vulnerable residents.
Today, Grassley is Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Finance, which is responsible for Medicare and Medicaid oversight and legislation. Nearly 1.7 million elderly and disabled Americans live in 17,000 nursing home facilities across the country. Combined Medicare and Medicaid payments for nursing home services total an estimated $70 billion annually.
A list of the nursing homes can be found on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services website: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/CertificationandComplianc/Downloads/SFFList.pdf .
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