Nursing Homes Should Post Their Medicare Ratings

As I look back at the year that was 2010, and review my various postings, one in particular, sticks out today. Almost 1 year ago, on January 11, 2010, I wrote asking Idaho nursing homes to post their Medicare 5-star ratings. This one seemed particularly good given a story in today's Los Angeles Times.

The story, by The new law is intended to ensure that patients and their families are aware of the evaluations. Nursing home officials also must post information explaining the ratings" and how to obtain state licensing records. Facilities that fail to follow the law "face a range of potential fines." The article goes on to discuss some of the draw backs of the 5-star ratings system, from both a resident-advocate perspective as well as a facility perspective.

As I have discussed before, you have access to the Nursing Home Compare feature of Medicare's website. Shouldn't the facility you are looking at make its rating easier for you to find. How much effort would it take for an Idaho nursing home to proudly post its Medicare rating and information concerning how to obtain it state inspection records? Does Idaho really need a law to require this, or is it just good business?

Once again, I invite all Idaho nursing homes to post their Medicare ratings. If a facility does so, be sure to let me know so I can mention you in this forum. If you are visiting a nursing home, be sure to ask what their rating is and why it is not posted. As I recently heard in a commercial for Medicare: "Knowledge is power."

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