Administrators say paperwork takes time from patients. That's what nursing home administrator Bob Compton says about working in one of the nation's most regulated industries. We're second only to nuclear power,'' he said. Every facility that gets Medicaid or Medicare reimbursement is inspected at least annually for certification by the federal government. The federal Health Care Financing Administration contracts with the State Department of Health to conduct the multi-day inspections.
Surveyors also make yearly state licensure inspections, unannounced.
A nursing home that does not accept federal dollars still must have a state license. The surveyors judge quality of care, staff-resident interaction and the facility environment. They talk to residents, family members and staff at all levels. The deficiencies are carefully recorded and ranked by danger to the nursing home residents. When needed, these surveyors recommend sanctions that could include admission bans, fines or closing down a facility.