Surveyors Needed

A May Report from the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging “confirmed that nursing home inspection agencies are severely understaffed, noting that 32 state survey agencies report job vacancy rates of 20 percent or more.” The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG) will search deeper into the surveys conducted by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ nursing home survey practices.

The OIG “identified multiple issues related to the backlog of required nursing home surveys conducted by the state agencies.”

The surveys conducted are somewhat random but must occur every 15 months. These surveys allow CMS to maintain minimum standards of care conducted by the nursing homes, fire and safety instructions are up to date, correct distribution of medications, accurate patient and facility records and more.

These surveys are also very important for consumers as they allow them to make an informed decision when choosing a facility for their loved one.

OIG also states that they will look more into the third party surveyor hiring and training.

The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee has advanced the Protecting Older Americans Act, which protects and enhances the rights of elders within and outside the courts. Bringing light to the cases within the courts and being able to have this opportunity rather than just private arbitration.