Some Of Worst-Run Nursing Homes In Country Are Taxpayer-Backed With Mortgages Insured By HUD
The number of taxpayer-backed nursing homes with serious deficiencies highlights the federal government’s spotty history of monitoring for-profit facilities. The Department of Housing and Urban Development's mortgage insurance program is a vital financial lifeline to the nursing home industry, but some people contend that the program must do more to ensure better business practices.
The New York Times:
Dozens Of Nursing Homes With HUD-Backed Mortgages Have ‘Serious Deficiencies’
Dozens of the worst-run nursing homes in the United States have mortgages guaranteed by a federal agency that mostly stopped inspecting such homes several years ago. Seventy-four nursing homes with mortgages insured against default by the agency, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, are among 478 homes identified this month by two United States senators as having “serious deficiencies.” (Goldstein and Gebeloff, 6/24)
And in other nursing homes news —
Bloomberg:
U.S. Nursing Home Costs May Get Worse Thanks To A Labor Shortage
The results of a six-year study by Georgetown University Medical Center revealed just how fast U.S. nursing home prices have been increasing all across America. And the future looks just as grim. Dr. Sean Huang, the study’s lead author, said the brutal dynamic governing long-term care in America—where many nursing home residents must spend down the bulk of their life savings before qualifying for federal assistance—is intensifying. California, Florida, New York and Texas all saw increases that far outstripped the 11.65% rise in inflation between 2005 and 2010, the period reviewed by Georgetown’s analysis of eight states. Additional data show the upward trend has continued in the years since. (McGrath, 6/25)
In Case You Missed It: Check out KHN's series "Neglect Unchecked," which looks at why long-term care facilities, their owners and the government fail to protect residents. And use look-up tools to find out more about nursing home staffing levels and boomerang hospitalizations.
