Administrator Seema Verma has directed CMS to undergo a comprehensive reive of nursing home regulations, guidance and processes:
Administrator Seema Verma said that the goal is to bolster safety and quality in SNFs across the country.
“This is not business as usual — we are pushing beyond the status quo,” she wrote in a blog post Monday.
“CMS’ approach to oversight of nursing homes is constantly evolving,” she added. “Just as we’re unleashing innovative strategies and technologies in other areas of CMS, we’re continuously looking for ways to improve our approach to nursing home safety and quality. We must never be complacent — we should always push ahead to continuously improve our efforts.”
But, according to the American Health Care Association:
The leader of the American Health Care Association said providers’ improvement in recent years should blunt any push for regulatory overhaul.
“We have been at the forefront of quality improvement efforts for many years, and the results speak for themselves,” said AHCA President and CEO Mark Parkinson. “On 19 of 24 quality measures, there has been tremendous improvement — and our momentum is accelerating.”
He acknowledged the need for regulatory oversight but said it needs to focus on person-centered care and supply feedback for providers to improve.