Additional Community Partnership Programs Designed to Improve Elder Care in Illinois and Nationwide Announced

As part of the Affordable Care Act, the nation’s Center for Medicare & Medicaid Studies recently announced the creation of 35 new community-based care transitions programs in 23 states. Nursing homes in Colorado, Florida, New York, and Mississippi will reportedly partner with medical providers in five of the 23 new locations. Currently, 82 transitions programs are purportedly working towards both lowering Medicare costs and reducing hospital readmission rates for Medicare insurance recipients.

Approximately one-fifth of all Medicare beneficiaries will reportedly be readmitted to a hospital within 30 days of discharge. This allegedly costs the Medicare program in excess of $26 billion every year. The purported goal of the transitions program is to identify and address the various factors that may cause rehospitalization for the nation’s elderly. In addition, coordination between health care providers and skilled nursing facilities is reportedly encouraged through the program.

According to Greg Crist, Vice President of Public Affairs at the American Health Care Association, the partnership demonstrates the important role skilled nursing facilities can have in providing quality patient care. He said the nursing home trade group has made reducing elderly rehospitalizations a priority throughout the nation. Crist added that helping American seniors successfully transition out of a hospital setting benefits everyone and also lowers overall costs.

Nursing homes in Illinois and elsewhere that receive federal Medicare or Medicaid funds are considered certified facilities. Certified skilled nursing facilities that operate in Illinois must provide quality resident care in compliance with both federal and state law. Despite that most nursing homes located in our state are certified facilities, being certified to accept federal funds is not required by Illinois law. The Illinois Department of Public Health regulates the quality of care provided in all Illinois skilled nursing facilities regardless of the facility’s certified status.

The Illinois Nursing Home Care Act was established to increase the quality of care received by nursing home residents in our state. Pursuant to the law, all nursing homes that operate in Illinois must provide at least 2.5 hours of direct care per day to each resident. In addition, all long-term care facilities operating within the state must provide 3.8 hours of daily direct care staffing for every resident by January 1, 2014. Unfortunately, many nursing homes allegedly fail to comply with the law’s requirements and understaffing often leads to elder neglect or abuse. If your loved one suffered abuse or neglect while residing in an Illinois skilled nursing facility, you are advised to speak with a competent attorney to discuss your concerns.

If your family member was the victim of abuse or neglect at a skilled nursing facility in Illinois, you should give the experienced attorneys at Abels & Annes, P.C. a call at (312) 475-9596 today. Our capable Chicago area nursing home abuse and neglect lawyers are available 24 hours per day, seven days per week to help you protect the rights of your elderly or disabled loved ones. For a free consultation with a knowledgeable attorney, please contact Abels & Annes, P.C. through our website.

More Blogs:

Influenza Epidemic Places Nursing Home Residents in Illinois and Nationwide at Risk, Illinois Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Blog, January 27, 2013
Federal Nursing Home Deficiency Reports Available Without Redactions for the First Time in Illinois and Nationwide, Illinois Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Blog, January 24, 2013
Additional Resources:

Senior Care Facilities Participating in New Community Care Transitions Programs, by Alyssa Gerace, seniorhousingnews.com