All penalty monies collected on violations of state standards are deposited into a special fund used by IDPH to monitor health care facilities that violate licensure standards and in which the owner or operator is unable or unwilling to make necessary corrections. The Long Term Care Monitor and Receivership Fund allows the Department to monitor facilities not in compliance with licensure standards and to safeguard facility patients or residents whether or not the owner is cooperative. All nursing facilities in Illinois are required to meet mandatory state standards that set the minimum and essential requirements of care that must be provided. Facilities are required to comply with the standards to provide the highest quality of care possible. Survey teams inspect and evaluate whether facilities meet the required standards and, if so, certify their success in meeting specific care standards.
Facilities failing to meet the standards are subject to fine or other enforcement actions.
The information on state and federal inspections and complaint investigations is available from the Department. As you review an inspection report, it is important to remember that nursing homes have the right to appeal survey findings and penalties imposed. Such appeals may be pending at the time the report is issued. On appeal, the department's decision may be upheld or reversed, or a settlement may be reached in which fines are reduced. To more fully assess the quality of care provided by a facility, it is important that you review current and past survey reports.