February 13, 2023 Washington, DC — A statement from Katie Smith Sloan, president and CEO of LeadingAge, the association of nonprofit providers of aging services, including nursing homes, on today’s announcement from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) regarding an increase in transparency of nursing home ownership:

“There has never been a more critical moment to build the nursing home system we need. Today’s action from HHS is in line with numerous White House initiatives around transparency and accountability. The federal government again shows its commitment to take meaningful steps to ensure America’s older adults and families can receive quality care, which includes owners and operators of our nation’s nursing homes. LeadingAge and our nonprofit, mission-driven nursing homes support this.

LeadingAge members are transparent in their ownership structure and board governance, and are held accountable to their local communities and government at all levels. Nonprofit providers have always disclosed ownership information as required by federal tax law on Form 990s that are open to public inspection. 

We value these transparency and accountability obligations because they promote nursing home excellence—and because they strengthen our organizations and the communities that we serve. The corporate structures of LeadingAge members promote longevity of ownership through governance by community boards of directors, and are financially sustained through public bond offerings and donations from philanthropists and foundations—though government support is often needed to cover the rising costs of caring for older adults.

We agree with the administration that ownership and financing of nursing homes should be transparent to help ensure that owners or associated businesses do not profit at the cost of quality care. The proposed disclosure and reporting requirements set out in today’s proposed rule are a step in the right direction.

We look forward to further review of the proposed rule and the ongoing discussion of how to ensure quality nursing home care to older Americans and their families.”

We represent more than 5,000 nonprofit aging services providers and other mission-minded organizations that touch millions of lives every day. Alongside our members and 38 state partners, we use applied research, advocacy, education, and community-building to make America a better place to grow old. Our membership, which now includes the providers of the Visiting Nurse Associations of America, encompasses the continuum of services for people as they age, including those with disabilities. We bring together the most inventive minds in the field to lead and innovate solutions that support older adults wherever they call home. For more information visit leadingage.org.