Trump Admin Eases Medicare Fines Against Nursing Homes

What’s the story?

Medicare is scaling back the use of fines to punish nursing home providers who harm or endanger residents. Seema Verma, head of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), explained that the change is aimed at easing regulations she says are "taking doctors away from what matters most: patients."

The change in penalty protocols was sought by the nursing home industry. According to the New York Times, "Since 2013, nearly 6,500 nursing homes — four of every 10 — have been cited at least once for a serious violation, federal records show. Medicare has fined two-thirds of those homes. Common citations include failing to protect residents from avoidable accidents, neglect, mistreatment and bedsores."

Industry representatives say they are in need of regulatory relief. Administration officials say the protocols around fines have not improved the quality of care for residents. Dr. Kate Goodrich, the director of clinical standards and quality at CMS, told The Hill:

"Rather than spending quality time with their patients, the providers are spending time complying with regulations that get in the way of caring for their patients and [it] doesn't increase the quality of care they provide."

But advocates for nursing home reform claim the relaxing of penalty protocols comes just as the the policies were starting to effect change:

"some egregious violations and injuries to residents are being penalized — finally — at a level that gets the industry’s attention and isn’t just the cost of doing business."

Fines will still be levied against providers, but will be capped and only assessed if repeated, systemic violations are uncovered upon inspection.

What do you think?

Do you support this move by the administration to reduce regulatory enforcement which it maintains is not effective? Or are they bowing to industry to the detriment of vulnerable patients and their families?

Tell us in the comments what you think, then use the Take Action button to tell your reps!

Take Action

— Asha Sanaker

(Photo Credit: Bromford via Flickr / Creative Commons)