Nursing homes throughout Pennsylvania receive funding from a variety of sources. While many collect fees from the residents who utilize their services, others receive state and federal money. Some receive financial aid from government programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid, and those that do are required to abide by the terms of the Nursing Home Reform Act.
The Nursing Home Reform Act provides regulations regarding what facilities must do to in order to continue to receive Medicare and Medicaid funding. For example, nursing homes must employ sufficient staff members for the number of residents they serve and they must be able to provide their patients and residents with adequate supervision. The Nursing Home Reform Act mandates that nursing homes have care plans for all individual patients and that they have access to the necessary medical tools and devices that their patients require.
One of the most important regulations that applies to nursing homes under the Nursing Home Reform Act is the requirement that nursing homes maintain accurate and complete clinical records. These records are important to show that patients have received the right care for their conditions and that their needs are being met.
The Nursing Home Reform Act is an important law that protects individuals who must move into care facilities. However, as stated previously, it only applies to facilities that receive Medicare and Medicaid funding. Facilities that do not receive these sources of support are governed by other laws and regulations, and individuals who have suffered harm in nursing homes are encouraged to speak with personal injury attorneys about the possible legal cases they may have for their neglect and abuse-based cases.