Citation

Gittler J. Res. Gerontol. Nurs. 2008; 1(4): 264-284.

Affiliation

The John A. Hartford Center of Geriatric Nursing Excellence, National health Law and Policy Resource Center, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA. josephine-gittler@uiowa.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, Healio)

DOI

10.3928/19404921-20081001-08

PMID

20078001

Abstract

There are many federal and state laws addressing, directly and indirectly, the quality of care provided to nursing home residents and the protection of residents from mistreatment. They include: (a) state laws that govern the licensing of nursing homes, (b) federal laws that govern the certification of nursing homes for participation in the Medicare and Medicaid programs, (c) elder abuse laws prohibiting mistreatment of older adults in nursing homes and other settings, (d) health care fraud abuse laws that are increasingly being used to combat the provision of substandard care to Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries in nursing homes, and (e) laws that have established long-term care ombudsman programs to promote the health, safety, well-being, and rights of nursing home residents. While these laws are generally viewed as having improved the care and treatment of nursing home residents, much remains to be done, particularly with respect to the implementation of these laws.

Language: en