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WYDEN, SMITH SEEK TO IMPROVE
LONG-TERM HEALTH CARE
New bill increases benefits for best nursing
homes,
promotes better care through health information sharing
April 5, 2005
Washington, DC – U.S.
Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) today introduced
legislation that rewards health providers who administer high
quality health care and provides better treatment options for
long-term care patients. The Long Term Care Quality and Consumer
Information Act would increase government payments from Medicare
to those nursing homes which provide the highest levels of care,
and also would provide for better sharing of information about
treatment options and quality of care in nursing homes among patients,
their families and medical professionals.
“Americans usually pay
the same for quality health care as for mediocre care,”
said Wyden. “While some efforts have been made in the private
sector to better recognize providers who consistently provide
a higher level of care, it is not enough. This bill aims to give
the government a leadership role in improving health care by rewarding
hospitals and doctors who improve patient care.”
“All nursing facilities
are not created equal,” said Smith. “By offering these
incentives, we are rewarding those homes who provide the best
quality care while at the same time holding non-performing facilities
accountable to the American taxpayer. The net result is higher
quality care and better information availability throughout the
long-term care industry.”
Specifically, the Wyden-Smith
bill provides incentives to skilled nursing facilities to improve
quality of care by linking federal Medicare payments to quality
reporting and performance requirements. This incentive system
would, in turn, provide more information to consumers about the
quality of care provided at nursing home facilities. The information
collected to monitor skilled nursing facility performance, including
nurse staffing ratios, would be made public to patients and their
families.
The bill will be referred to the Senate Finance Committee, where
both Senators Wyden and Smith serve.
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