Families who place loved ones in nursing homes expect a reasonable standard of care for the residents. Sadly, some nursing homes fail to achieve that goal. As a result, nursing home neglect cases are on the rise in New Mexico as well as in other places across the United States.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services plans to establish rules to improve the quality of health care that Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries receive in nursing homes. The proposed rules will cover nursing homes across the country, including those in New Mexico.
Some of the proposed rules focus on reducing readmissions to nursing homes. As a result, the quality of care in nursing homes and other medical facilities is expected to improve. Other changes include proper training for nursing home staff, including medical professionals. The staff should be able to take care of residents who have serious medical conditions, such as dementia.
The proposed rules also call for improved care planning and discharge planning. The nursing home staff will be required to give residents the information they need for follow-up care. The CMS is planning to improve the nursing home residents’ rights. The CMS is one of the leading organizations in the nation where long-term care is concerned. The cost of making the proposals effective will be significant-$729 million in the first year and $638 million in the second year.
When a family discovers a loved one is the victim of nursing home abuse or neglect, they have the right to take legal action against the facility. A lawyer with experience in the field of nursing home abuse and neglect can help families evaluate their options.
Source: Modern Healthcare, “Obama administration moves to strengthen nursing home oversight,” Virgil Dickson, July 13, 2015