CMS Wants Nursing Home Feedback on Healthcare Reform

Have you felt like your voice has gone unheard during healthcare reform? If so, here's some welcome news - CMS is asking nursing homes for their feedback on any of the areas for which the Survey & Certification Group has full or partial responsibility.

On April 20, CMS sent letters out to nursing homes encouraging them to comment, make suggestions or express concerns on areas of healthcare reform legislation that will affect nursing homes, including:

• Section 6101: Disclosure of Ownership
• Section 6102: Ethics and Compliance Programs
• Section 6102: Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement Program
• Section 6103: Nursing Home Compare Website
• Section 6105: Standardized Complaint Form
• Section 6106: Ensuring Staffing Accountability
• Section 6111: Civil Money Penalties

Other areas of the healthcare reform law will require rule-making and will be addressed in a separate process managed primarily by the CMS Office of Clinical Standards and Quality.

CMS is requesting that feedback be sent to Jenny Filipovits at jenny.filipovits@cms.hhs.gov by Wednesday, May 5.

McKnight's Long-Term Care News obtained a copy of the letter and posted it on their website. You can download the letter here.