Federal Government Identifies the 54 Worst Nursing Homes in America

Dan Frith

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It is about time! The Federal and State governments pay a substantial portion of the costs for nursing home care through the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Taxpayers spend about $72.5 billion a year to subsidize the cost of nursing home care. So, shouldn't we demand good care for the residents and refuse to tolerate substandard nursing homes?

Fifty-four nursing homes are being told by the government that they're among the worst in their states in an effort to goad them into improving patient care. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will list the homes on its Web site today. The homes in question are among more than 120 designated as a "special focus facility." CMS began using the designation about a decade ago to identify homes that merit more oversight.

The nursing homes to be cited come from 33 states and the District of Columbia, according to a list obtained by The Associated Press. There are about 16,400 nursing homes nationwide. About 1.5 million elderly and disabled people live in nursing homes.

The AARP also applauded the administration's action:

"People in nursing homes have a right to know how well they're performing," said David Certner, director of legislative policy for AARP, an advocacy group for people 50 and older. "Their families certainly have a right to know what kind of care their relatives are receiving and if that care is substandard."

For more information on this subject, please refer to the section on Nursing Home and Elder Abuse.