Consumer group counterpunches as nursing homes worry about staffing mandate

While nursing home advocates continue to plead with federal officials about what they call the lack of feasibility for an expected first-ever federal staffing mandate, a notable consumer group has released a report accusing government overseers of not adequately tracking billions of dollars given to providers.

“Where Do the Billions of Dollars Go? A Look At Nursing Home Related Party Transactions” claims to document how nursing homes “funnel billions of dollars through related party companies — companies they own — with little to no oversight by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.”

The publication was produced by the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long Term-Care, a watchdog group long known to wary providers. The report appears to have been released with the White House’s looming nursing home staffing mandate in mind.

Nursing home associations firmly rejected the report’s premises and conclusions. Some advocates urged “a careful read” of the report “to avoid reaching unfair and inaccurate conclusions.”