About 1.3 million people receive care each day in over 15,500 nursing homes that are certified by either Medicaid or Medicare (sometimes, both). The federal government requires nursing homes meet minimum standards as a condition of the payment negotiation. Over the years, serious concerns have been raised about the quality of care and the adequacy of oversight and enforcement. Nursing Home provisions in the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987 (OBRA 87) were enacted to help address these concerns.
In 2008, CMS (Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services) launched the Five-Star Quality Rating System on the Nursing Home Compare website. CMS recently modified the methodology of these ratings, began posting more information about nursing home deficiencies from state health inspections, and is planning future steps to increase the star ratings’ reliability, as required by provisions in the ACA (Affordable Care Act) and the IMPACT (Improving Medicare Post-Acute Care Transformation Act).
Kaiser Family Foundation, issued a brief on May 14th, 2015 — presenting national and state level analysis’ of nursing homes quality scares based on these five-start ratings. The issue brief also discusses the relevant policy considerations.
To read the brief and learn more about the Nursing Home Quality Start Ratings — click here. You may also download the brief (PDF format), by clicking here.
