CMS Issues Changes to Nursing Home Compare to Focus on Abuse and Neglect

On October 7, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a major change of the information available to nursing home residents, families, and caregivers on the Nursing Home Compare website. Beginning October 23, CMS will display a consumer alert icon next to nursing homes that have been cited for incidents of abuse, neglect, or exploitation.

The new alert icon will be added for facilities cited on inspection reports for one or both of the following:

• Abuse that led to harm of a resident within the past year
• Abuse that could have potentially led to harm of a resident in each of the last two years

The icon will be updated monthly, at the same time CMS inspection results are updated. This icon will supplement existing information, including the Nursing Home Five-Star Ratings, helping consumers develop a more complete understanding of a facility’s quality.

The Society is currently reviewing this change and will begin a dialogue with CMS to ensure the information is as accurate and as useful to consumers as possible.

Read more about it here.