CMS Pushing For More Safety In Nursing Homes

We often think nursing homes and care facilities for the elderly are safe and secure options for housing our older loved ones. It’s hard to imagine anything else, when we frequently view advertisements showcasing happy and healthy elderly people living under the care of a professional staff. Unfortunately, however, this isn’t always the case.

Recently, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) unveiled a new initiative aimed at improving safety and security at nursing homes. Under the Civil Money Penalty Reinvestment Program, the CMS will develop a variety of training products for nursing home professionals, including staff competency assessment tools, instructional guides, webinars, and technical assistance seminars.

These various items aim to assist staff in reducing the amount of adverse events that might occur, improve the care of patients who suffer from dementia, and strengthen overall staffing quality. CMS advisor Seema Verma said in a statement on these processes that, “we are pleased to offer nursing home staff practical tools and assistance to improve resident care and positively impact the lives of individuals in our nation’s nursing homes.”

The ongoing three-year effort to make these changes is ultimately funded by civil penalties. These penalties are fines nursing homes pay in the event they are noncompliant with regulations, and there are serious concerns regarding the safety and quality of the care they provide. It is unclear exactly how much the agency collects in civil money penalties from nursing homes yearly.

The CMS has been under increased scrutiny from Congress to improve safety standards after ongoing media reports of abuse, neglect, and substandard care were found occurring in nursing homes across the country in recent years.

The Energy and Commerce Committee’s Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee noted that, “analysis conducted by one news outlet found that between 2013 and 2016, the federal government cited more than 1,000 nursing homes for either mishandling cases related to, or failing to protect residents against, rape, sexual abuse, or sexual assault, with nearly 100 facilities incurring multiple citations.”

Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys

Nursing home abuse occurs when a resident does not receive the care they need, whether physically, medically, or emotionally, or suffers harm as a direct result of the action or inactions of a nursing home facility.

If you suspect your loved one is showing warning signs of nursing home abuse, retain the professional services of the nursing home abuse attorneys at Lopez McHugh LLP. Time limitations apply to your potential claims, so contact us today.