Current Issues Index

Current Issues

(Issues listed alphabetically.)

Advancing Excellence – A new two-year national campaign to address quality in nursing homes.

Assisted Living – Strengthening assisted living standards is critical to protect vulnerable residents and ensure a reasonable quality of care. Follow the development of this issue as many seek to define assisted living in a meaningful way.

Culture Change – This movement promotes a person-centered model of care. Learn more about it on this newly updated site.

Economic Stimulus – In 2008, Congress approved an economic stimulus package that includes stimulus payments to most American households. Learn more about how this impacts residents of long-term care facilities.

Elder Abuse/Elder Justice – Sadly, older persons are not always treated with respect nor do they always get the care they need from institutions or from their guardians. Elder justice legislation introduced in Senate and House. Follow the issues here.

Emergency Preparedness – Resources are available for victims, their families, and providers that may be useful in preparing for or in the aftermath of an emergency event.

Digital TV Conversion – At midnight on February 17, 2009, all full-power television stations in the U.S. will switch to 100 percent digital broadcasting.  Access the special nursing home application for the converter coupon here.  

Family and Resident Councils – The Older Americans Act requires local ombudsmen to support the development of resident and family councils. See resources listed here for practical guidance.

Health Issues – Ombudsmen, residents, and their families and friends can stay up to date with the latest health recommendations for long–term care facilities through published items on this site.

HIPAA Privacy Rule – Many questions have arisen about ombudsman access to residents' records since HIPAA was enacted in 1996. Does this rule make it easier or harder? How does it effect resident and resident representatives' access to records? Follow development of the issue here.

Medicare Part D – Prescription Drug Benefit – With the advent of the Medicare Modernization Act (MMA), a prescription drug benefit was signed into law affecting all persons on Medicare. Find information and educational resources for all and the latest on critical program distinctions for nursing home residents.

Mental Health/Mental Illness – Resources and information related to mental health/mental illness among the long-term care population.

Natural Disasters – Gulf Coast states struggle with aftermath of hurricane Katrina. Resources and information about the disaster and recovery are posted here.

Nursing Home Closures and Bankruptcies – As nursing homes close for financial or other reasons, residents must be relocated to other facilities. Ombudsmen are involved in many sides of this issue including helping residents find appropriate placements and making sure quality care is maintained. Learn more here.

Nursing Home Staffing – A staffing shortage in nursing homes has contributed to poor quality care. This issue remains a top priority on NCCNHR's advocacy agenda. Follow it here.

Olmstead Decision – The Olmstead Decision involves a persons right to choose care in the least restrictive setting. States are planning how to accommodate resident requests to return from institutions to the community and how to stimulate alternatives to institutional care.

Pain Management – The issue of pain management has been emerging as an important topic and is most recently highlighted by the release of the Nursing Home Quality Initiative and the quality measure for the percentage of residents with pain. Recently released reports estimate that nearly half of the 1.6 million Americans living in nursing homes have under assessed and under treated pain. Learn more on this site.

Quality Improvement Initiative (NHQI) – Follow the development and implementation of NHQI, a CMS effort that includes a collaborative partnership between LTC Ombudsman Programs and Quality Improvement Organizations.

QIO Mediation for Medicare Beneficiaries – A new option identified by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) for resolving Medicare beneficiary complaints is being offered by the Quality Improvement Organizations (QIOs). As the project expands nationally, materials from CMS explaining the program and materials developed by the state QIOs will be posted here.

Rebalancing the Long–Term Care System – Significant efforts are underway at both the state and national levels to "rebalance" the long–term care system to give consumers needing long–term care services more choices in where and how they receive those services. "CHOICES," "Money Follows the Person," and "Nursing Home Transition and Diversion" are some of the terms being used and programs developed in rebalancing efforts. Here you will find information about these different programs, including Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRC's), which are single points of entry to long-term care services being developed around the country.

General Ombudsman Issues – Ombudsmen advocate for individual residents as well as for systemic change. See miscellaneous issues in this category.

Archives – Find additional important issues that appeared previously under current issues.