The Senate Special Committee on Aging held a “Residents at Risk: The Strained Nursing Home Inspection System and the Need to Improve Oversight, Transparency, and Accountability” hearing on May 18. During his opening statement, Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) announced the release of a report by the Committee’s Majority staff based on findings from their review of over 2,000 pages of state documents and data.

The report, titled Uninspected and Neglected: Nursing Home Inspection Agencies are Severely Understaffed and Putting Residents at Risk, was released after the hearing and details the failure of state survey agencies to complete timely annual re-certifications and complaint surveys.

The report and hearing witnesses stated survey agencies are understaffed and underfunded, which has led to delays in timely surveys and inspections. LeadingAge will review the report and follow up with members of the Senate Aging Committee, particularly those who participated in the hearing. All hearing materials can be found here.