CMS Administrator Warns of Devastating Cuts to Nursing Home Oversight

Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, the current administrator of CMS, is raising alarms over significant cuts and reorganization within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which she claims are leading to devastating disruptions, particularly in nursing home oversight. During a press call, she stressed the importance of CMS's role in safeguarding the health and safety of facilities that serve millions of Americans.

Brooks-LaSure highlighted that the planned closure of numerous HHS regional offices would severely impair CMS's ability to enforce nursing home regulations and provide oversight. She pointed out that most CMS personnel work in these regional offices, which are key in handling cases involving enforcement against facilities and conflicts with insurance providers.

Concerns were also raised over the agency's understaffing issues, exacerbated by a hiring freeze and stagnant funding over the years. Efforts by former Senator Bob Casey to secure additional funding for nursing home inspections have not been successful, leaving critical areas of oversight lacking the necessary resources to operate effectively. Brooks-LaSure warned that without timely nursing home surveys, providers with poor performance could be left unaddressed for years.

Overall, Brooks-LaSure underscored the need for more attention and funding to ensure that CMS can fulfill its mission effectively, as the ongoing cuts threaten to undermine the integrity of care within nursing homes and other facilities.