KOHL COMMENDS CMS FOR RELEASING NATIONAL WATCH LIST OF WORST NURSING HOMES IN THE NATION

WASHINGTON - Today U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging Chairman Herb Kohl (D-WI) commended the public disclosure of a list of the 54 worst nursing homes in the nation as determined by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The facilities named are enrolled in the agency's " Special Focus Facility" Program, having exhibited a history of providing poor care to residents based primarily on the results of federally financed state inspections. Kerry Weems, Acting Administrator for CMS, announced that the federal government would be releasing the list at an Aging Committee hearing earlier this month in response to a forthcoming nursing home bill crafted jointly by Senator Kohl and Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA). Disclosing the program participants, considered to be among the most troubled nursing homes in the country, is included in the bill that will be introduced in coming weeks. 

 

"I am pleased to say CMS is beating us to the punch: disclosing this list is a provision in our forthcoming bill. CMS understands what we understand-that it is in everybody's best interest to let consumers know which nursing homes repeatedly demonstrate deficiencies and violate government standards. Those homes are obviously not doing their jobs," Chairman Kohl said at the November 15 hearing. "Often the only way to ensure the improvement of any entity is to bring its failings to light. I honestly believe that more nursing homes will come back into compliance for good if they have the court of public opinion and the power of market forces as encouragement."

 

Senator Kohl's legislation with Senator Grassley would allow consumers timely access to accurate information on nursing homes-including the results of government inspections, the number of staff employed at a home, and information about the home's ownership-through the federal government's website for nursing homes, Nursing Home Compare. The joint legislation will also strengthen the government's system of enforcement. Under the current system, nursing homes that are not providing quality care can escape penalty from the government while they slip in and out of compliance with federal regulations. The bill will also ensure that regulators are able to intervene quickly in order to protect the safety of residents. 

 

The Nursing Home Transparency and Improvement Act of 2007 is the most recent example of policy put forth by Senator Kohl's office that utilizes the powerful tool of disclosure as a means to educate and empower consumers. In September, Kohl introduced the Physician Payments Sunshine Act of 2007 along with Senator Grassley to require manufacturers of pharmaceutical drugs, devices, and biologics to disclose the amount of money they give to doctors through payments, gifts, honoraria, travel, and other means. Further, at an Aging hearing last month, Kohl announced the Defined Contribution Fee Disclosure Act of 2007, a forthcoming bill with Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) to require complete transparency of 401(k) fees to both employers and participants.

 

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CMS posting of the SFF list:  http://www.cms.hhs.gov/CertificationandComplianc/Downloads/SFFList.pdf

Associated Press story on release of the SFF list:  http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iMy1dGc63V64E4BUX-DFkFPlZTIwD8T72JT82

 

More information about the November 15 hearing is available here:  http://aging.senate.gov/hearing_detail.cfm?id=287614&