Concerns about quiet changes to the federal nursing home regulations have been raised as more people learn about the changes.
The American Health Care Association, which represents the nursing home industry, sent letters to the President and to Thomas Price, who was then the Health & Human Services secretary, calling for modifications of the nursing home regulations. Subsequently, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), charged with oversight of the nursing home industry, published new guidelines.
Advocates for seniors and nursing home residents are critical of the administration’s motivations. “CMS is dismantling the enforcement system and making it more difficult and less likely for any enforcement against facilities with serious deficiencies,” said a senior attorney at the Center for Medicare Advocacy. “They’re not seeing their responsibility as helping to assure the health and welfare of residents. They’re working to please their customers, the nursing homes.” For more, read the story.
