The Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) has published a report entitled “Comparison of Consumer Protections in Three Health Insurance Markets: Medicare Advantage, Qualified Health Plans and Medicaid Managed Care Organizations.” The report is … [Read more...] about Center for Medicare Advocacy Co-Authors Report Published by the Kaiser Family Foundation Comparing Consumer Protections in Major Health Plans
Quality of Care
Changes to Nursing Home Compare and the Five Star Quality Rating System
Two-Thirds of Nursing Facilities Nationwide Will See Decline In their Quality Measures; One-Third of Facilities Will See Decline in Their Overall Score As promised in October 2014,[1] the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has … [Read more...] about Changes to Nursing Home Compare and the Five Star Quality Rating System
Changes to Nursing Home Compare: Some Good, Some Bad
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced plans to expand its focused surveys on resident assessments and nurse staffing for nursing facilities nationwide (but not in all facilities), beginning in early fiscal year 2015. … [Read more...] about Changes to Nursing Home Compare: Some Good, Some Bad
CMS Restructures Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) Program
Separating Beneficiary Complaint Review Functions from Quality Improvement Functions On May 9, 2014, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the first phase of its restructuring of the QIO functions. In the first … [Read more...] about CMS Restructures Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) Program
The Myth of Improved Quality in Nursing Home Care: Setting the Record Straight Again
April 17, 2014 A recent report by the Department of Health and Human Services' Inspector General found that one third-of nursing home residents in a Medicare-nursing home stay suffered an adverse event or other harm in August 2011 and that … [Read more...] about The Myth of Improved Quality in Nursing Home Care: Setting the Record Straight Again
CMA Report: Examining Inappropriate Use of Antipsychotic Drugs in Nursing Facilities
The misuse of antipsychotic drugs by nursing homes has been the subject of Congressional hearings and Government reports for many decades.[1] More than 300,000 nursing home residents take antipsychotic drugs and, as the Inspector General found, … [Read more...] about CMA Report: Examining Inappropriate Use of Antipsychotic Drugs in Nursing Facilities
Debunking Nursing Home Myths about Quality of Care and Enforcement of Federal Care Standards
As policymakers in Washington, DC and beyond continue a national discussion about the state of long-term care in the United States, a critical component of the discussion is the quality of care provided in nursing homes across the … [Read more...] about Debunking Nursing Home Myths about Quality of Care and Enforcement of Federal Care Standards
Medicare Paid $5.1 Billion to SNFs that Did Not Provide Care-Planning and Discharge-Planning (February 2013 OIG Report)
In its most recent report on nursing home payments and quality, February 2013, the Office of Inspector General (OIG), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) reports that many skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) failed to provide adequate care … [Read more...] about Medicare Paid $5.1 Billion to SNFs that Did Not Provide Care-Planning and Discharge-Planning (February 2013 OIG Report)
Nursing Home Enforcement by United States Attorneys: What Happened to the Regulatory System?
Two recent cases – one in Georgia and the other in Pennsylvania – enforce nursing home quality of care standards through actions by United States Attorneys. In neither case had the regulatory agencies cited deficiencies for … [Read more...] about Nursing Home Enforcement by United States Attorneys: What Happened to the Regulatory System?
The Worst-Performing Nursing Facilities Are Seldom Sanctioned; Self-Reporting is Not an Accurate Quality Measurement
According to an analysis by the Center for Medicare Advocacy (the Center) few sanctions are imposed for the poor care provided by nursing facilities identified by the Federal Government as among those providing the poorest quality of care and quality … [Read more...] about The Worst-Performing Nursing Facilities Are Seldom Sanctioned; Self-Reporting is Not an Accurate Quality Measurement