Other Legal Issues
In this section, we cover such issues as pharmaceuticals in long-term care facilities, the red flags rule relating to identify theft and other assorted court cases and legal issues that involve aging services.
Featured Content
National Background Check Program Report Released by CMS
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has released a report developed by the National Background Check Program (NBCP) Long-Term Care (LTC) Criminal Convictions Work Group. CMS is accepting comments from stakeholders on the Work Group's options. More
Impact of Sequestration: A CMS Survey and Certification Letter
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued a Survey and Certification Letter describing the policy and operational adjustments the agency is making to accommodate the federal budget reductions resulting from sequestration that impact state operations and state survey agency functions. CMS emphasizes that states are expected to adhere to CMS priorities in conducting all survey and certification work and that these adjustments are intended to help states meet their priorities within the reduced budget. More
CMS Issues Memo Expanding Access to Nursing Home Statements of Deficiencies
The content and upcoming expansion of the Nursing Home Compare and hospital data websites is the subject of a new survey and certification letter from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The letter advises that beginning in April, 2013, in addition to current survey data, users of Nursing Home Compare will be able to access facilities' statements of deficiencies (CMS-2567s) for the preceding 3 standard health surveys and 3 years of complaint surveys. CMS also plans to add indicators for the scope and severity of each deficiency cited. More
Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria: CDC Calls for Action To Halt Spread of CRE
Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) bacteria are increasing and have become more resistant to last-resort antibiotics over the past decade, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC findings "are a call to action for the entire health care community to work urgently -- individually, regionally and nationally -- to protect patients." According to the CDC, bloodstream infections from CRE result in death to up to half of patients who contract them. In addition to spreading among patients, often on the hands of health care personnel, CRE bacteria can transfer their resistance to other related bacteria, creating additional life-threatening infections for patients and potentially for otherwise healthy people. CDC data indicates that, currently, almost all CRE infections occur in hospitals, long-term acute care facilities, or nursing homes. More
5 OIG Recommendations for SNF Care and Discharge Planning
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) released a new report on February 28, recommending that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) strengthen nursing home regulations and oversight related to care plans and discharge planning. More