Two National Groups Rate TN Nursing Home Care Substandard
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March 18, 2009
Nashville, TN – Improving Tennessee's dismal track record for nursing home care should be a top priority for state lawmakers - and now, there are two national studies to confirm it.
The latest was done by the Lewin Group, a Virginia-based health care policy and consulting firm commissioned by AARP. It is the second such report in recent months. Last year, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services rank Tennessee's nursing homes 47th in the nation, giving 30 percent of them the worst possible rating.
Daniel Clayton, president of the Tennessee Association for Justice (TAJ), calls the new AARP report significant.
"We agree with the AARP that quality of care must be improved in Tennessee nursing homes."
The TAJ is in favor of AARP-supported legislation that would address both staffing and oversight of nursing homes.
His group does not approve of another piece of pending legislation, that caps the amount for which a nursing home can be sued.
Some lawmakers contend lawsuit limits would improve care by discouraging frivolous suits, but a system is already in place to do that, says Clayton.
"There are mechanisms in place, called 'Rule 11' sanctions, that punish lawyers if they file frivolous lawsuits."
On Tuesday, the Tennessee Department of Health suspended admissions to a nursing home in Winchester. Golden Living Center Mountain View has been ordered to admit no new residents, after state inspectors found numerous violations.