Friday, November 04, 2011

Elder Justice Act

The historic health care reform bill that President Obama signed into law includes the Elder Justice Act, the Nursing Home Transparency and Improvement Act, the Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act, the CLASS Act and provisions designed to improve the ability of people to get needed long-term care services at home.
It took three years to enact Nursing Home Transparency and Improvement, seven to pass the Elder Justice Act, and a dozen to create a national program of criminal background checks on long-term care workers. They all became law when President Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
Following are some important long-term care highlights of the new legislation:
Nursing Home Transparency and Improvement
- Establishment of a consumer rights information page on Nursing Home Compare, including services available from the long-term care ombudsman.
- A requirement for nursing homes to make surveys and complaint investigations for three years available on request and to post a notice that they are available.
- A requirement that states maintain a website with information on all nursing homes in the state, including survey reports complaint investigation reports, plans of correction, and other information that the state or CMS considers useful.
Elder Justice Act
See summary of Elder Justice Act from ABA. See full text of act here: Elder Justice Act
Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act
this legislation creates a national program of criminal background checks on employees of long-term care providers who have access to residents of facilities or people receiving care in their own homes.
CLASS Act
Home and Community-Based Services


Obama Signs Elder Justice Act

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