Health and Disability

A bill to amend title XVIII and XIX of
the Social Security Act to improve the transparency of information on
skilled nursing facilities and nursing facilities and to clarify and
improve the targeting of the enforcement of requirements with respect
to such facilities.

Other Bill Titles (2 more)Hide Other Bill Titles

2/14/2008--Introduced.
Nursing Home Transparency and Improvement
Act of 2008 - Amends titles XVIII (Medicare) and XIX (Medicaid) of the
Social Security Act to direct skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) and
nursing facilities to make available, upon request, ownership and
affiliated parties
information to the Secretary of Health and Human Services and other
responsible parties. Outlines accountability requirements for such
institutions. Requires specified additional information to appear on
the Department of Health and Human Services Nursing Home Compare
Website. Requires SNFs to separately report expenditures for wages and
benefits for different levels of nursing staff. Directs the Secretary
to develop a standardized form for use by a resident (or a person
acting on the resident's behalf) in filing a complaint about a SNF with
a state survey and certification agency or long-term care ombudsman
program. Requires a state to establish a complaint resolution process.
Directs the Secretary to establish a program for SNFs to report
staffing information based on payroll data. Increases certain civil
monetary penalties for SNF violations. Requires the Comptroller General
to study and report to Congress on:
(1) the financial
status, resident care, and performance of SNFs and nursing facilities
in the Special Focus Facility (or a successor) program of the Centers
for Medicare & Medicaid Services relative to a comparable
sample of facilities outside such program; and
(2) best
practices for, and barriers to, the appointment of temporary management
for SNFs with a record of poor care. Directs the Secretary to provide
for an national independent monitoring program to oversee interstate
and large intrastate chains of SNFs. Requires a SNF administrator to
notify the Secretary and other responsible parties of an impending
closure of the facility. Directs the Secretary to conduct demonstration
projects on culture change and use of information technology in SNFs
and nursing facilities. Provides for dementia management training and
patient abuse prevention training. Directs the Secretary to study and
report to Congress on training for certified nurse aides and
supervisory staff of SNFs and nursing facilities.

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