Pence: Coronavirus Task Force to Focus on Nursing Home Compliance, Infection Control

[PeteS in CA]

https://www.cnsnews.com/article/washington/melanie-arter/pence-coronavirus-task-force-focus-nursing-home-compliance

Pence: Coronavirus Task Force to Focus on Nursing Home Compliance, Infection Control

(CNSNews.com) – Vice President Mike Pence announced Wednesday that the Coronavirus Task Force plans to focus on making sure that nursing homes are complying with the new standards of care and infection control standards to ensure that none of the elderly contract the coronavirus.

“We have raised the bar regarding infectious disease control in our nursing homes, and in addition, [Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services] Administrator Verma will explain how we are going to focus all of our inspection resources for the foreseeable future on compliance with infection control standards,” he said during a White House press briefing.

OMG, what a 55-gallon drum of worms that'll open! There are very good SNFs - My Dad's last years were in one (his choice) - but there are also some that are horrific. The upside is that this coronavirus effort could improve SNFs generally.

[Applewood]

Nursing homes should be under the states' purview.  If Pence and his task force want to work with state officials on this matter, that's fine.  Otherwise, the feds should keep their noses out of the states' business.

[PeteS in CA]

If a SNF receives $$ from Medicare, the Feds do have a valid interest.