News Article

National Advocates Send Letter to CMS to Preserve Residents' Right to Visitation

January 04, 2022

Consumer Voice, with other advocates, sent a letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure regarding removing restrictions on visitation in nursing homes.   This action reunited hundreds of thousands of nursing home residents with their loved ones.  The letter to CMS expresses concern regarding the recent request by some that CMS grant facilities discretion to limit visitation in nursing homes.  The negative impact on residents, however, due to isolation and neglect that resulted from visitation restrictions and lack of adequate staff has been tremendous. Residents must continue to have access to family members and other support persons, and facilities must ensure that proper infection prevention protocols are being followed by staff and visitors.  We strongly urge CMS to continue to stand strong with residents and preserve their critical right to visitation.

Read the letter to CMS.