New GAO Report On Nursing Home Quality of Care

Press Release

Senators Chuck Grassley and Herb Kohl have released a report of the Government Accountability Office. The report - GAO-08-571 - is titled NURSING HOMES Federal Monitoring Surveys Demonstrate Continued Understatement of Serious Care Problems and CMS Oversight Weaknesses. It will be posted today at www.gao.gov.

Comment from Senator Grassley:

"The report spells out the chain of oversight deficiencies that result in quality of care deficiencies for nursing home residents continuing to the detriment of residents. We need to make sure state surveyors have an improved survey methodology and adequate investigative skills to identify problems. Federal penalties need to be strong enough to achieve accountability and encourage compliance. Above all, consumers need access to accurate, meaningful and current data. Our legislative reform effort is about securing transparency. With information, consumers can make the best choices for their loved ones. Collectively, those choices can improve nursing home safety and quality across-the-board."

Comment from Senator Kohl:

"This report makes it clear that the nation is due for an overhaul of nursing home standards. Not surprisingly, some members of the for-profit nursing home industry would prefer to maintain the status quo. That's unacceptable to us. We're going to push very hard to have our bill included in the upcoming Medicare package."

The senators said the findings by GAO give Congress more reason to pass legislation that gives consumers more information and gives nursing homes more incentive to comply with federal quality of care standards

Last fall, Grassley and Kohl introduced the Nursing Home Transparency and Improvement Act. The legislation is intended to improve the quality of care in nursing homes with more and better information for consumers provided by the federal government on the Nursing Home Compare website, new requirements for accurate reporting of the staff who are providing direct services in nursing homes, stiffer penalties for serious quality deficiencies, and greater accountability and transparency about who owns and operates nursing homes.

Grassley is ranking member and former chairman of the Committee on Finance, with jurisdiction over the federal health care programs that cover nursing home care, and former chairman of the Special Committee on Aging. Kohl is chairman of the Special Committee on Aging, a standing committee that conducts oversight of issues related to the health, safety, and financial well-being of older Americans.

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