Biden calls for nursing home ownership transparency

PRESENTED BY

 The Big Story 

The Biden administration will require nursing homes to disclose more information about their ownership and management, in an effort to provide more clarity about whether private equity companies or real estate investment trusts are involved. 

© AP Photo/Nathan Howard

The final rule comes amid mounting concerns about the role private equity companies and other investment firms play in the quality of care in nursing homes.  

Studies show that private equity ownership is associated with poorer staffing conditions and decreases in quality of care, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said.

The final rule includes specific definitions of private equity and real estate investment trusts, setting the stage for identifying whether a nursing home belongs to one of those types of owners. 

The rule will require nursing homes that receive Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement to disclose additional information regarding their owners, operators and management; for example, nursing homes will disclose individuals or entities that provide administrative services or clinical consulting services to the nursing homes.  

Nursing homes frequently use other companies to provide major services or support within a facility, but families currently have no way of knowing which different companies or firms provide care to their loved ones and how they might be connected to the owners of a nursing home, the administration said.  

The additional data required to be reported under the rule will be public, the administration said, allowing families to make more informed choices about the care of their loved ones. It will also allow the federal government to see a much fuller picture of nursing home ownership. 

Between 2016 and 2021, 348 hospitals experienced a change in ownership, compared to 3,000 nursing homes. But officials did not know how many of those transactions involved private equity or real estate investment trusts. 

The rule was applauded by sunshine advocacy groups and bipartisan lawmakers. 

“For too long, our nation’s nursing home system has lacked critical federal policies to protect our loved ones and seniors at a time when they can’t always advocate for themselves. This final rule will bring long overdue transparency and accountability,” said Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa).  

“This final rule from the Biden administration will allow us to look under the hood of these facilities, giving us the tools we need to better protect nursing home residents and hold negligent or profiteering facility owners accountable,” said Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.), chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Aging . 

Welcome to The Hill’s Health Care newsletter, we’re Nathaniel Weixel and Joseph Choi — every week we follow the latest moves on how Washington impacts your health.

Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here.

Essential Reads 

How policy will be impacting the health care sector this week and beyond:

Jamie Dimon called Nikki Haley about cutting the national debt

Advocates launch ballot measure to protect abortion in Nebraska

Abortion-rights advocates eye more wins after Ohio ballot success

A MESSAGE FROM EXPRESS SCRIPTS BY EVERNORTH

Express Scripts by Evernorth redefines savings and transparency with clear prescription cost breakdowns. Learn More.

In Other News 

Branch out with a different read from The Hill:

FTC warns food industry trade groups and influencers about disclosures on paid social media posts

NEW YORK (AP) — The Federal Trade Commission on Wednesday said it issued warnings to two food and beverage industry groups, as well as a dozen online influencers, for failing to adequately disclose paid social media posts that promoted a sweetener and sugary products. The letters point to Instagram and TikTok posts made by the influencers …

Full Story

Around the Nation 

Local and state headlines on health care:

• RSV cases rise in Massachusetts as hopes dim for broad access to new drug for babies (Boston Globe)

• Oklahoma Supreme Court halts anti-abortion laws challenged by women’s rights groups (The Oklahoman)

• Pumping the brakes: Ohio House Speaker dismisses effort to limit court jurisdiction on Issue 1 (Ohio Capital Journal)

What We’re Reading 

Health news we’ve flagged from other outlets:

• House moves to limit so-called gain-of-function research (Stat)

• Insurance executives refused to pay for the cancer treatment that could have saved him. This is how they did it (ProPublica)

• New TV ad targets Speaker Mike Johnson on Medicare, Social Security (NBC News)

What Others are Reading 

Most read stories on The Hill right now:

Lawyer of Georgia defendant in Trump election case admits to leaking witness video

Leaked videos. An apparent confession, later represented as a “typo.” Demands for a protective order. Media reports detailing confidential interviews … Read more

Conservatives tank procedural vote on appropriations measure, signaling trouble

A band of House conservatives tanked a procedural vote to advance an appropriations bill Wednesday, underscoring the problems Republicans are having … Read more

What People Think 

Opinions related to health submitted to The Hill:

• Biden turns ‘Godfather’ on prescription drugs

• Ohio’s victory on abortion can’t replace what we lost: The federal right to reproductive justice

You’re all caught up. See you tomorrow!