THE WHITE HOUSE AT WORK



Tuesday, July 21, 1998

PRESIDENT CLINTON:
IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF NURSING HOME CARE

Moving a parent to a nursing home is one of life's most difficult decisions. But with these steps, we are giving families the security of knowing that we are doing everything we can to make our nation's nursing homes safe and secure.

President Bill Clinton
July 21, 1998

Today, President Clinton announces tough new legislative and administrative actions to improve the quality of nursing homes and crack down on nursing homes that do not follow the rules. These actions include:ensuring swift and strong penalties for nursing homes failing to comply with standards, strengthening oversight of state enforcement mechanisms, developing a national registry to track and identify individuals with a record of abusing residents, and implementing unprecedented efforts to improve nutrition and prevent bed sores.

The Need To Ensure Quality Care In Nursing Homes. There are approximately 1.6 million older Americans and people with disabilities that receive care in roughly 16,700 nursing homes nationwide. Problems like the inappropriate use of physical restraints and a shortage of hearing aids for those in need were reduced by the enactment of new regulations by the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) in 1995. However, HCFA's ongoing review of nursing home care, and a report being sent to Congress today by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), shows that tougher enforcement is needed to ensure high quality care in all nursing homes.

A Presidential Plan To Improve Nursing Home Care. This week, the President is sending Congress tough new legislation that calls for:

New Administrative Actions To Improve The Quality Of Nursing Homes. Today, the President is also announcing the implementation of new penalties, inspections, and tougher oversight of nursing homes by the HCFA, including:



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