Federal Government to Implement Nursing Home Rating System
According to a web posting at http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008806190360 The Bush administration announced the federal government will put in place a nursing home rating system by the end of the year that will be accessable to consumers from a yet to be announced government website. According to Kerry Weems, acting administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, The fact a home has a lower rating will likely put them on the path to improvement," because "I don't think we're going to see many people who are very anxious to put a loved one in a one-star home."
The rating system is a good first start. However, it is either very nieve or very deceptive on the part of Mr. Weems to suggest that the rating system will have a very large impact on the average member of the public's decision regarding which nursing home facility to place a loved one. The truth is that the overwelming majority of families trying to place a loved one will never know the rating system or a website ranking nursing homes exists. In fact, Florida has had such a website to rate its nursing homes for many years. It can be found at http://ahcaxnet.fdhc.state.fl.us/nhcguide/. The Florida nursing homes that rank poorly continue to have high occupancy rates despite the low ranking. For example, a nursing home called Rehabilitation And HealthCare Center Of Tampa received an overall rating of one star out of 5 for its latest survey performed on february 7, 2008. However, it had an 80.05% occupancy rate.
While low rankings in performance are not publicized enough to effect consumer opinions, the information should still be gathered and posted. The real power of the ranking system is that it creates a framework to punish poor performers. Punishment can occur as the result of a nursing home neglect lawyer bringing a personal injury lawsuit when the rankings are admitted into evidence to give the jury an idea of the conditions of the facility. Unfortunately, tort reform in the state of Florida has drastically reduced the number of such lawsuits and therefore their deterent effect created by them. The rankings can also be used by the government to sanction the nursing home and or revoke its license. The real question is whether the federal or state government will use the information for that purpose.
Scott Distasio
Tampa nursing home abuse lawyer
DISTASIO LAW FIRM
HELPING INJURED PEOPLE
OFFICES: TAMPA
888-595-0022
