On May 18th, the U.S. Senate Special Committee issued a new report, titled “Uninspected and Neglected,” detailing the results of a year-long investigation into the capacity of state survey agencies to oversee health and safety standards at the Nation’s 15,000 nursing homes. The investigation found that 32 survey agencies have vacancy rates of 20 percent or higher among nursing home surveyors, including nine states with vacancy rates of 50 percent or higher—shortages states directly linked to inspection delays. Federal data show that 28 percent of the Nation’s nursing homes are behind schedule for standard inspections, which federal law requires be conducted no later than every 15 months, including 1 in 9 that have not received a standard inspection in two years.
Recommendations in the report include:
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Congress and States should invest in robust nursing home oversight.
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CMS should regularly collect and report staffing information from State survey agencies.
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CMS, HHS OIG, and States should increase oversight of contract surveyors.
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States should consider more flexible hiring requirements for surveyors.
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CMS should consider strategies to reduce burden on States for non-survey tasks.
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Congress, States, and institutions of higher education should collaborate to expand opportunities to enter and remain in the health care workforce.
May 18th hearing can be viewed at - “Residents at Risk: The Strained Nursing Home Inspection System and the Need to Improve Oversight, Transparency, and Accountability
Read witness testimonies here.
Read AHCA’s press release in response to the hearing.