Thursday, February 21, 2008

The Worst Nursing Homes

There are approximately 16,400 nursing homes nationwide, and each year American taxpayers spend about $72.5 billion annually to subsidize nursing home care. With the amount of resources devoted to nursing home care, one would hope that patients are receiving quality care. Unfortunately, not all nursing homes are safe. This month the Bush administration released the names of 131 nursing homes that rank among the worst in the nation. The list released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) names facilities identified as a “special focus facility”, meaning the home has a poor inspection record meriting additional governmental oversight. These homes are subject to inspection every six months rather than once a year.

Typical offenses include overmedicating patients or unnecessary medications for elderly patients, and inadequate safeguards for patients with Alzheimer’s or dementia from everyday hazards in the nursing home. While most nursing homes have some deficiencies and may receive six or seven noted deficiencies per inspection, the homes on the list averaged twice as many deficiencies. In order to be placed on the list, the home must show a demonstrated pattern of serious problems for occurring over a prolonged period of time.

The director of the CMS encourages patients and their families to use the list to enhance their awareness of any deficiencies with a facility, but cautions that “there is no substitute for visiting the nursing home in person.” The CMS notes that publicity about a home’s problems often leads to improvements within the facility; out of 54 homes listed as poor performers in a November 2007 study, 21 showed improvement. However, about 16 percent do not improve and are eventually terminated from Medicare and Medicaid. The list will be updated every quarter, with the next list to be made public in April of 2008.

To view the February 2008 list of the worst nursing homes in the nation in pdf format, visit http://www.cms.hhs.gov/CertificationandComplianc/Downloads/SFFList.pdf.

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