The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released the latest list of Special Focus Facilities (SFF) and candidates.  CMS oversees the SFF program, which places special scrutiny on select nursing homes with a documented pattern of providing poor care.

Beginning January 26, 2022, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is posting new information on the Care Compare website that will help consumers have a better understanding of certain staffing information and concerns at facilities.

The Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released a report, CMS Should Take Further Action to Address States with Poor Performance in Conducting Nursing Home Surveys, detailing problems with the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ oversight of state survey agencies.

Congress needs to hear directly from residents, families and their advocates that the staffing provisions must be included because adequate staffing is the key to safety and quality of care.

Contact Your Congressmembers and Tell Them to Support Protections for Nursing Home Residents

Reach out to your Representatives to tell them to support nursing home provisions and Elder Justice Act provisions in the current budget and reconciliation package.

A provision to require at least one registered nurse 24 hours a day has been added to the four critical provisions included in the most recent version of the Build Back Better Act.  Contact your members of Congress to ensure all provisions will be included.

Congress has heard your voice! Important nursing home provisions were included in the most recent version of the Build Back Better Act.  However, the inclusion of the provisions in the final bill is not ensured.

Thank you to all those who participated in the Twitter Storm to ask CMS and Congress to #OpenNursingHomeDoors. Be sure you’ve signed the petition.