State asked to enforce postings of federal rankings to help consumers.

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LA County Supervisors are asking the state to make nursing
homes display their federally-issued five star ratings to help families make
informed decisions about elder care.

The motion, authored by Supervisor Mike Antonovich, was unanimously
approved today/yesterday by the Board in an effort to ensure the health and
well-being of the County’s senior population.

The federal government’s Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
Services issue the ratings, which include a series five-star ranking (with five
stars being the highest) based on medical care, staffing levels, food services,
sanitation, bedsore mitigation and the results of licensing inspections.

“This vital information equips families to make informed
decisions about the care for their loved ones.  It also provides
incentives for facilities to establish higher quality standards and compliance,”
said Antonovich. 

While the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services
performs licensing and complaint inspections through a contract with the state,
only the state can require facilities to post the results of the new federal rating
system.    

The motion sends a five signature letter to the Governor,
the California State Legislature, and the Director of the State Department of
Public Health to support a facility rating guide for nursing facilities and
convalescent homes.

Supervisor Antonovich was also the impetus behind the County’s
successful restaurant grading system, which was established in 1997.