Homework 3

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Southeast Missouri State University *

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Health Science

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Dec 6, 2023

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Richie Bordonado HCM-382-001 2023 November 14 Homework 3 In an effort to enforce infection control regulations more strictly, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently announced that non-compliance in the healthcare industry during the ongoing pandemic could result in fines of up to $20,000 (CMS, 2023). Seema Verma, the CMS Administrator, emphasized the strict penalties for noncompliance, especially for nursing homes that have a history of infection control violations. A CMS memo outlined the tiered fine structure, which increases in penalties for providers who repeatedly fail to implement infection control measures. The severity of the infractions and the frequency of non-compliance determine the fines, which can range from $5,000 to $20,000 (CMS, 2023). A provider who has received one citation in the past year, for example, may be fined up to $5,000; if the inadequacies are severe, the fine may rise to $10,000. Providers who have been cited twice or more in the previous two years may be subject to fines ranging from $15,000 to $20,000, with the higher amount being applied in cases where deficiencies are severe (CMS, 2023). Provider groups are concerned about this government push for more enforcement. A nonprofit provider's representative, Leading Age, denounced the strategy as an attempt to "punish its way out of the pandemic" (Leading Age, 2023). These worries were also expressed by Mark Parkinson, the head of the American Health Care Association, the biggest nursing home association in the country, who cautioned against the possible unfavorable consequences of punitive measures. Parkinson emphasized the need for a well-rounded strategy that focuses on finding ways to help nursing homes enhance their infection control protocols and make

significant changes. The decision to step up enforcement measures stems from the early COVID-19 trends, which showed high rates of illness and death in American nursing homes. About 60,000 residents and 34,400 workers have contracted the virus, and about 26,000 residents and 450 workers have died from the illness (CMS, 2023). Verma underlined the significance of upholding strict infection control guidelines in response to these concerning statistics, which apply to both COVID-19 and potential infections like the flu (CMS, 2023). Furthermore, CMS threatened to reduce CARES Act funding for non-compliance if governors did not conduct targeted infection control surveys in nursing homes by July 31 as part of the increased enforcement. Verma put emphasis on how important it is for the government to take action to stop the virus's spread and future resurgences. Also, data from CMS and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed a link between facility star ratings and the coronavirus's spread. Relative to five-star facilities, one-star facilities had a higher probability of having a high number of COVID-19 cases (CMS, 2023). A University of Chicago analysis, however, contradicts these findings, indicating that there is no significant correlation between a nursing home's Five Star Rating and the likelihood of at least one COVID-19 case or death (CMS, 2023). Even though CMS decided to increase fines in an effort to improve infection control, worries about the possible negative effects of harsh measures without matching provider support still exist. Finding a careful balance between support and enforcement is essential to guaranteeing the security of patients and employees in healthcare facilities. There is disagreement over whether fines are a useful tool for correcting infection control issues. Critics contend that punitive measures might not be sufficient to address the underlying

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