Statement of Bruce Yarwood, President and CEO, American Health Care Association (AHCA):
Washington, DC – "Today's release by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) of its updated Special Focus Facility (SFF) list will enhance the American Health Care Association's (AHCA's) ability to provide targeted support to those facilities who require the greatest assistance in fulfilling our commitment to high quality care and services for our nation's most vulnerable citizens.
"Our profession has helped lead the nation's healthcare sector in terms of quality improvement, and we are committed to continuing our relationship with CMS to ensure the SFF list is accurate, updated timely and appropriately, and that facilities and consumers are aware and understand the criteria for designating a facility as special focus – and the criteria for graduation out of the special focus facility designation.
"Additionally, one of the keys to improving the collaborative process between providers and regulatory authorities – and a key to helping facilities in need of improvement – is expanding the concept of transparency beyond just facilities to include the survey and enforcement process itself. A transparent survey process that recognizes quality, and provides the resources for facility improvement, will enhance every facility's efforts to improve patient care, and would mirror our profession's own quality improvement initiatives.
"Continuing to work together with all stakeholders – and establishing a still stronger 'culture of cooperation' – is imperative to optimizing care quality in every facility, in every state. In so doing, we can continue to improve the quality of care and quality of life for the millions of patients and families who rely upon us every day for the long term care and services they require."
The American Health Care Association represents nearly 11,000 non-profit and proprietary facilities dedicated to continuous improvement in the delivery of professional and compassionate care provided daily by millions of caring employees to 1.5 million of our nation's frail, elderly and disabled citizens who live in nursing facilities, assisted living residences, subacute centers and homes for persons with mental retardation and developmental disabilities. For more information, please visit www.ahca.org.