Nursing Homes Complaint Investigation Processes Often Inadequate to Protect Residents

Summary: Assesses the effectiveness of: (1) state complaint investigation (CI) practices as a component of the system to ensure sustained compliance with federal nursing home quality-of-care standards, & (2) the Health Care Financing Admin.'s (HCFA) role in establishing standards & conducting oversight of states' (CI) practices & in using info. about the results of CI to ensure compliance with nursing home standards. Complain...t investigation practices were assessed in Maryland, Michigan, & Wash. State; state auditors' reports from 11 other states were examined; & HCFA's policies & procedures for overseeing state CI activities were also examined. Charts & tables. [read more]