How is the quality of a nursing home monitored? Who inspects them?
The CMS oversees the quality of care in nursing homes. State governments oversee the licensing of nursing homes and have the primary responsibility for inspecting nursing homes and making sure problems are corrected. The state conducts inspections of each nursing home that participates in Medicare and/or Medicaid an average of once a year. Nursing homes with repeat violations must receive more frequent inspections. Surveys may be conducted at any time, with no advance notice, including weekends, early mornings and evenings. The state also investigates complaints about nursing home care. The inspection team of trained inspectors includes at least 1 registered nurse. The team checks that the nursing home is meeting more than 150 regulatory standards that range from protecting residents from physical and mental abuse or inadequate care to standards for food preparation to fire safety. The federal government, through CMS, helps fund these inspections for nursing homes that receive funds fr
