Nursing Homes Grossly Over-Report Staffing Levels, Investigation Finds

An alarming report issued by the Center for Public Integrity has revealed that approximately 80% of all skilled nursing facilities are inflating registered nurses staffing numbers in self-reported surveys.

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The Center for Public Integrity, an investigative journalism organization, says that by comparing the homes self-reported data to Medicare cost reports it became apparent that the staffing levels were falsely doubled. Not only is this fraudulent information, but it is harmful to those who are in need of a skilled nursing home facility with enough capable workers to provide quality care to patients.

Falsifying these reports allows the cycle of negligence and abuse to persist within our nations nursing homes. It is important to note that the numbers reported in the Nursing Home Compare website reflect the number of registered nurses on staff, not general staff members.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid have stated that Medicaid cost reports are a more reliable source of information than Nursing Home Compare.

The danger lies in the use of sites like Nursing Home Compare by families of residents, who may base decisions about whether to place their loved one in a particular home are relying on self-reported surveys. Without reviewing data from a third-party source, families of residents are at a distinct disadvantage.

With the passage of the IMPACT Act in October, the need for additional oversight and accountability in nursing homes will hopefully be addressed. The hope is that quality of care will improve as a direct result of more accurate quality reporting.

Nursing home abuse and neglect is a pervasive issue affecting millions of people across the country right now. Our personal injury attorneys are ready to defend the rights of victims and their families to help end the cycle of suffering.

Call  414-333-3333 or fill out our online case evaluation form for free legal advice today.