Find poor performing Medicare and Medicaid Nursing Homes

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) provides extremely useful information about Medicare and Medicaid nursing home providers with links to applicable laws, regulations and compliance information. You can view the main site here: www.cms.hhs.gov/CertificationandComplianc/12_NHs.asp. Most importantly, however, CMS provides a list of what is known as “special focus facilities” or a list of nursing…

Campaign to Reduce Pressure Sores

In its third year, “Advancing Excellence in America’s Nursing Homes” is a coalition-based campaign to improve the quality of life for residents and staff in nursing homes. Goal #1 is to reduce pressure ulcers. See if your local nursing home is a participant in the campaign here: http://www.nhqualitycampaign.org/star_index.aspx?controls=welcome.

Interference with a relationship or contract?

If someone or another business attempts to interfere with a relationship that you are entering into with another business or customer, or in fact diverts that relationship, you or your business may have a claim against that individual or business for intentional interference with a business expectancy–or interference with “prospective economic advantage.” In general, 4 elements…

Information on Illinois Nursing Homes

Extensive information on Illinois nursing homes such as: Who regulates nursing homes; A list of Illinois nursing homes; How to select a nursing home; and Reports on nursing home violations can be found at the Illinois Department of Public Health’s web site here:http://www.idph.state.il.us/webapp/LTCApp/ltc.jsp. When making a decision on where to send a loved one, it…

Sales Rep? Commission Due?

There is a little known law in Illinois called the “Illinois Sales Representative Act” which states that a “principal” who fails to timely make commission payments to a “sales represenative” is liable in a civil action for “exemplary damages” not exceeding 3 times the amount of the commissions owed to the sales representative and states that the principal “shall pay the…

Medication Orders – Residents’ Rights

The Illinois Nursing Home Care Act affords residents many rights. In particular, Residents have a right to have administered all medication and treatment as ordered by their physicians. In fact, the facility–through its director of nursing or charge nurse–must examine all new orders within 24 hours of their issuance to assure facility compliance. View the official rule here:…