AARP: CMS Publication Of Poor Performing Nursing Homes A Good First Step

Main Category: Caregivers / Homecare
Also Included In: Nursing / Midwifery
Article Date: 23 Nov 2007 - 3:00 PDT

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AARP Legislative Counsel David Certner made the following statement in response to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) announcement regarding poor performing nursing homes in the Special Focus Facility (SFF) program:

"Residents in the poorest performing nursing homes and their families have a right to know that the care they receive may be sub-standard. Earlier this year AARP called on CMS to release this information, and we are pleased CMS has agreed. People in need of 24-hour care should not have to be concerned that their nursing home is a potentially harmful environment. This information will also be helpful to individuals and their families who are looking to choose a quality facility.

"Last week, AARP submitted testimony to Congress recommending ways to improve nursing home quality. Demanding transparency and documenting nursing home ownership; requiring better data on nursing home staffing levels and turnover and public disclosure of this information; and enforcement of existing nursing home quality standards were cited as critical to improving nursing home quality. Our most vulnerable citizens deserve better and we applaud CMS for taking this step towards quality improvement - it's now time to take the next step and begin reforming the system that cares for those most in need."

For the complete testimony AARP submitted to the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health and the Senate Special Committee on Aging or for the full letter AARP sent to CMS on August 9, 2007, requesting it make publicly available the nursing homes in the SFF program, please contact Drew Nannis or Nancy Wood at 202-434-2560.

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates. We produce AARP The Magazine, published bimonthly; AARP Bulletin, our monthly newspaper; AARP Segunda Juventud, our bimonthly magazine in Spanish and English; NRTA Live & Learn, our quarterly newsletter for 50+ educators; and our website, AARP.org. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

American Association of Retired Persons