By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law
Consumers have a new online tool to see which nursing homes are being hit with fines for poor quality, safety or maintenance. Nursing Home Inspect 2.0 is a free database that assists users in evaluating nursing homes across the country. The database was first introduced by ProPublica, a nonprofit investigative news organization, in August 2012. On December 17, 2012, the same organization introduced the 2.0 version that includes information about federal fines imposed on nursing homes in the past three years.
The website can be found at Propublica.org/nursinghomes.
According to the website, the information provided comes from government inspection reports from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
Fines Against Nursing Homes are Handed Out Inconsistently.
On the front page the website shows colored maps of the United States. The maps break down each state’s number of deficiencies and average fine amount. From a quick glance at the maps you can see states have imposed federal fines inconsistently.
In an interview with the Orlando Sentinel, an analyst who helped develop the website said nursing homes in some states pay a steep price for misconduct, while those in neighboring states don’t. An example used in the article shows that the average fine paid by a nursing home in South Carolina in the past three years is $40,507. The average fine in Texas is $6,933. Florida sits in the middle nationally, with an average fine of a little more than $17,000.
Nursing Homes Under the Watchful Eye of the Government.
Recently the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released its annual Work Plan. This Work Plan is an overview of how the OIG intends to carry out its mission to make the Medicare and Medicaid programs run more smoothly and efficiently.
Of particular importance to Medicare and Medicaid providers is the Work Plan’s detailing of particular areas and billing codes and practices that will be under additional scrutiny during the 2012-2013 fiscal year. Nursing Homes are on the list due to the large source of abuse of federal healthcare dollars.
To learn about several key areas in nursing homes that will be under additional scrutiny, click here.
Contact Health Law Attorneys Experienced with Nursing Home Cases.
The Health Law Firm and its attorneys represent nursing homes and nursing home employees in a number of different matters including incorporation, preparing contracts, defending the facility against malpractice claims, licensing and regulatory matters, administrative hearings, and routine legal advice.
To contact The Health Law Firm, please call (407) 331-6620 or (850) 439-1001 and visit our website at www.TheHealthLawFirm.com.
Sources:
Jameson, Marne. “New nursing home inspection website helps consumers make choices.” Orlando Sentinel. (December 17, 2012). From: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/os-nursing-home-inspection-website-20121217,0,171167.story
Lade, Diane. “Consumers Can Search Nursing Home’s Fines.” Sun Sentinel. (December 18, 2012). From: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/health/fl-nursing-home-inspect-20121217,0,887722.story
About the Author: George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., is Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law. He is the President and Managing Partner of The Health Law Firm, which has a national practice. Its main office is in the Orlando, Florida, area. www.TheHealthLawFirm.com The Health Law Firm, 1101 Douglas Ave., Altamonte Springs, FL 32714, Phone: (407) 331-6620.
“The Health Law Firm” is a registered fictitious business name of George F. Indest III, P.A. – The Health Law Firm, a Florida professional service corporation, since 1999.
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