In a recent CMS update, the public will now have access to new information about nursing homes that were previously undisclosed.
According to a report by the Center for Medicare Advocacy, in response to questions from reporters, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has stated it will now publicly post all civil money penalties imposed against nursing facilities, whether or not the fines have been paid. Up until now, CMS has refrained from publicly disclosing unpaid fines. Arguably, CMS’s former policy rewarded bad behavior by facilities, such as refusal to pay fines, by keeping the federal fines hidden from the public. The change in policy reflects the importance of the media in identifying and exposing poor public policies. On December 10, 2021, the New York Times reported that “much of the data that powers the [federal Care Compare rating] system is wrong and often makes nursing homes seem cleaner and safer than they are.” There are multiple reasons why, including failure to report the fines if an appeal is filed and not reporting the fines until the fines are paid.
As a result, for years, the public has not been given correct information on the federal nursing home compare website. Hopefully, consumers will now be able to compare nursing homes more accurately in their search for the right facility.