Posted: 01/08/09
Nearly 3 million Americans depend on nursing homes for life-saving care every year. Choosing the right nursing home facility based on care needs and cost (what will Medicare and/or supplemental insurance plans pay for) is often a stressful and arduous one. However, thanks to a new federal government website choosing a quality facility just got a little easier.The recently launched section of www.medicare.gov will be updated monthly and rates more than 15,800 nursing homes that participate in the public insurance system. Each facility is assessed based on their staffing levels, percent of residents who have bed sores after their first 90 days, number of residents whose mobility worsened after admission and whether residents received recommended medical care. The site also provides families with information on community-based alternatives to nursing homes.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services over sees the insurance programs that often pay for nursing home care, so the website was developed to help protect the health and welfare of those members they represent. Initial quality rankings gave 12 percent of homes a full five-star rating, 22 percent just one star and the remaining 66 percent of homes were distributed fairly evenly among the two, three and four star ratings.
If the time comes to chose a nursing home for a loved one, consider what Medicare, supplemental insurance plans, or other medical plans will pay for. Then visit the new website to ensure the facilities you are considering meet your rating criteria.
Related Links
www.medicare.gov
