As COVID-19 rates are increasing throughout the country, the CDC and CMS have published recommendations for visiting with families and friends.  See our fact sheet summarizing these tips.

Throughout the challenges of the past nine months, the Consumer Voice has steadfastly advocated for residents, educated and empowered families, and supported the advocacy of ombudsmen and citizen advocates. Help us continue our important work.

Episode 7 of the Pursuing Quality Long-Term Care Podcast is now available on Apple Podcasts. During this discussion with Sonya Barsness, a Masters-prepared Gerontologist, and Lori Smetanka, Consumer Voice Executive Director, they talk about a philosophy that honors the needs, preferences, and goals of elders by emphasizing choice, self-determination, relationships, purposeful living, and other similar values.

The recently introduced Senate bill - the Safe to Work Act (S 4317) - would remove a nursing home’s liability for all negligent care that harms or results in the death of residents from 2019 until 2024 - including harm totally unrelated to COVID-19.  Please act now to urge your members of Congress to strongly oppose this bill.

The Commission on Safety and Quality in Nursing Homes has announced it is accepting ideas and suggestions from the public until 5pm Friday, July 17.

We urge you to submit comments calling on CMS to mandate that additional data be collected and that nursing homes share with residents, their representatives, and their families the same information they report to the CDC.

It is now unclear whether Congress will pass any COVID-19 relief legislation, including any provisions related to immunity for nursing homes from liability for COVID-related care.

HR 4334 passed the House and will now go to the President to sign.

Congress has approved another short-term reauthorization of the Money Follows the Person program as a part of the minibus spending bill.