WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley today pressed the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on why it has failed to ensure that nursing home abuse and neglect cases are reported to law enforcement, as required. Grassley also pressed the agency for its lack of urgency in responding to an early alert from the agency watchdog on this problem. Three of 134 incidents of abuse and neglect in 33 states identified by the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General were in Iowa.
“These early findings are extremely troubling and call into question why, for so many years, CMS has failed to take proper steps to ensure that SNFs [Skilled Nursing Facilities] followed the law and protected patients,” Grassley wrote to CMS Administrator Seema Verma. “Our nation’s most vulnerable people must be protected, not ignored.”
The inspector general’s early alert found that 28 percent of the 134 potential incidents of abuse or neglect in 33 states may not have been reported to law enforcement, as required. Three of the 134 potential incidents were in Iowa. Grassley followed up with the inspector general and learned that only one of the three Iowa cases was reported to law enforcement. It’s unclear whether the case was prosecuted.
The early alert recommends CMS take immediate action to ensure that such incidents are identified and reported. However, CMS is not taking immediate action. “CMS recently declared that it will take action on the IG’s recommendations when the IG finalizes its review,” Grassley wrote. “In light of the potential for substantial harm in delaying implementation of the IG’s recommendations, why wait?”
Grassley’s letter is available here.
