Democrats Seek (withheld) Info on Bad Nursing Homes

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Forum Name Latest Breaking News
Topic subject Democrats Seek (withheld) Info on Bad Nursing Homes
Topic URL http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3136597#3136597
3136597, Democrats Seek (withheld) Info on Bad Nursing Homes
Posted by DeepModem Mom on Sat Jan-12-08 12:02 PM

Source: NYT/AP

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: January 11, 2008

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Democratic lawmakers are pressing the Bush administration to disclose the identity of more troubled nursing homes, saying earlier efforts to alert consumers did not go far enough.

About six weeks ago, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services took the unprecedented step of publishing the names of 54 nursing homes that ranked among the worst in their state. The idea was to goad them into improving care. The homes selected were among 128 identified as meriting more oversight. Such homes, called special focus facilities, undergo inspections at six month intervals rather than once a year. The move initially generated praise. But others soon asked the question: Why not identify all 128?

''Choosing a nursing home or long term care facility is one of the most important decisions seniors and their families can make,'' said Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y. ''They deserve to know everything that CMS knows.''

Clinton and Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, introduced a bill last month that would require CMS to reveal the names of all nursing homes that get the special focus designation. Nine senators, including Harkin, also urged Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt to immediately release the full list. They said in a letter that the administration's policy was ''potentially endangering the health and safety of thousands of our most vulnerable citizens.''

So far, the administration has resisted publicizing the names of all 128 nursing homes. The homes that CMS listed fared poorly on an inspection after they had been named a special focus facility....

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Nursing-homes-Disclosure.html?_r=1&oref=slogin