January 14, 2020

In this Issue:

1. Research Finds Safety Data on Nursing Home Compare is Underreported
2. Consumer Voice Webinar Next Thursday on the Patient Driven Payment Model
3. Project in Connecticut Addresses Social Isolation
4. Consumer Voice Seeking Spring Interns
   

Research Finds Safety Data on Nursing Home Compare is Underreported

 A researcher at University of Chicago has found that the data used by Nursing Home Compare to report patient safety related to falls may be highly inaccurate.  Prachi Sanghavi, PhD, an assistant professor in public health sciences, compared the falls calculations used for Nursing Home Compare's ratings with actual Medicare claims for falls by nursing home residents from 2011-2015.  She found that only 57.5% of falls were accounted for in the Nursing Home Compare's Minimum Data Set, which is self-reported by nursing homes.  The reporting rates also differed based on race and length of stay with reporting rates higher for white residents (59%) than non-white residents (46%) and higher for long-term stays (62.9%) than short-term stays (47.1%). More information »

Consumer Voice Webinar Next Thursday on the Patient Driven Payment Model

Join Consumer Voice Thursday, January 23rd at 2:00pm ET for a webinar entitled "Patient Driven Payment Model: What does it mean for residents?" In October 2019, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services implemented a new federal nursing home payment system, the Patient Driven Payment Model (PDPM).  PDPM changed the reimbursement rules and financial incentives for skilled nursing facilities (SNFs).  As a result, advocates are already seeing changes in SNF admission practices, and in the provision of therapy services to residents.

Presenter: Toby S. Edelman, Senior Attorney, Center for Medicare Advocacy

Join us to hear more about PDPM and discuss the impact on residents and families. Register »

Project in Connecticut Addresses Social Isolation

Connecticut State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Mairead Painter is working with AARP Connecticut and researchers at Quinnipiac University to learn more about why people experience isolation and loneliness.  The project aims to improve the quality of care for older adults suffering from social isolation. More information »

Consumer Voice Seeking Spring Interns