Brookings briefing addresses long-term care survey process, job training

Redesigning the regulatory survey of nursing homes would help determine
how far current resources can be stretched to improve quality,
according to a panelist who participated in a long-term care reform
conference held on Friday.



Speaking at the event, hosted by the Brookings Institution, Mary Jane
Koren of The Commonwealth Fund, Susan Reinhard of AARP and John
Schnelle of Vanderbilt University discussed improving quality and
efficiency in the nation's long-term care sector. Providers do not view
the current regulatory survey of nursing homes as consistent, fair or
objective, and the system doesn't make it clear whether or not quality
improvements can be made using available resources, Schnelle said.



Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) proposed including job-training programs in
healthcare reform as a way to ensure healthcare workers are prepared to
deal with any emerging long-term care needs. Rep. Jim McCrery (R-LA)
suggested a tax benefit for family members who take care of elderly
relatives at home, suggesting that that may be a way to fill some of
the gap in the healthcare workforce.