Democratic Senators Don’t Like Risk-Based Surveys

Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) blasted the new CMS Risk-Based Survey (RBS) program in a new letter to CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz.

Calling the RBS a way to have shorter and less rigorous nursing home reviews and inspections, the senators said the Trump Administration’s policy puts an estimated 114,300 nursing home residents in nearly 1,700 facilities at risk.

The letter to Oz highlighted a new analysis by Consumer Voice, which said the criteria CMS uses to identify lower-risk facilities eligible for reduced scrutiny do not reliably reflect high-quality care.

“CMS has adopted the RBS against a broader backdrop of rolled-back nursing home standards, including the elimination of new minimum staffing standards and delays to nursing home financial transparency requirements. These actions already place nursing home residents at risk — and the new policy of limited surveys will only make matters worse,” the senators said in the letter. 

Warren requested that CMS release information on whether the RBS adequately protects nursing home residents and follows federal statutory requirements by Nov. 9.

Read the letter at Text of Letter (PDF).

Care Compare started placing the gold trophy icon for high-performing SNFs earlier this month. Read the coverage at Gold Trophy Is Here! Care Compare Now Noting RBS Achievers | Park Place.

Comments or questions? Contact Patrick Connole at pconnole@parkplacelive.com.