In a recent report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), studies show that data collection and regulation regarding nursing homes is below acceptable levels. The report suggests that the limited data collection that Medicare and Medicaid have in this area makes it difficult to tell if the quality of care has improved or not.
McKnight’s expands on this issue:
[The GAO’s] new study results take to task the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for not monitoring its own oversight activities enough to know whether quality of care has actually improved.
The report, “CMS Should Continue to Improve Data and Oversight,” was released Nov. 30 and gives nursing homes and CMS mixed reviews.
The GAO cited recent trends in four data sets that show conflicting findings on quality. Consumer complaints have risen in volume, the report notes, but numbers for staffing levels, deficiencies and certain clinical quality measures all could indicate improvement.
The GAO, however, cast shadows on all findings, especially providers’ self-reported results in staffing and quality measures.
Read the full GAO November report here.
Photo by Ken Teegardin via Flickr CC License (SeniorLiving.org)
