House lawmakers want the Trump administration to answer serious concerns they have about federal oversight of nursing homes.
Leaders of the House Energy and Commerce Committee wrote Monday to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Seema Verma on recent media reports of abuse, neglect, and patient harm at some nursing homes that participate in Medicare or Medicaid.
The lawmakers referred to Hollywood Hills in Florida, where 14 residents died in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma last year, with the deaths being attributed partly to no air conditioning and delays from staff in calling 911. The committee held a hearing on the nursing home incident in October.
CMS terminated Medicare and Medicaid participation for Hollywood Hills in October. The facility has since closed.
“We continue to work with the remaining facilities to do all that is necessary to ensure nursing home residents receive care in safe and stable environments,” an administration official told the Washington Examiner.
The letter also referred to media reports over the past year of nursing home residents being abused and neglected.
The letter asked CMS for information on the agency’s role in overseeing nursing homes, including the Hollywood Hills facility.
Verma said in a statement to the Washington Examiner that “patient safety is CMS’ top priority in nursing homes and all facilities that participate in the Medicare program.”
Committee Chairman Greg Walden, R-Ore., led the letter. GOP Reps. Gregg Harper of Mississippi, Michael Burgess of Texas, and Gus Bilirakis of Florida also signed on to the letter.
