After initially resisting their disclosure, the Bush administration on Tuesday published the names of 131 nursing homes with poor inspection records and said some were already showing signs of improvement.The list released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services represents troubled facilities cited as a “special focus facility,” a designation used to identify those that merit more oversight. For these homes, states conduct inspections at six-month intervals rather than annually.

You may view the full report below:

On the Net:

The nursing home list can be found at:

http://www.cms.hhs.gov/CertificationandComplianc/Downloads/SFFList.pdf

Senate Special Committee on Aging:

http://aging.senate.gov/

Many senior living community representatives find that the most asked question by seniors and their families in search of a senior living community or nursing home is, “How is the food?”. So what do you think the representative would say? Terrible? I highly doubt that, I’m sure they would ensure that it is wonderful and that you will love it. Do you think that is true?

Here are some tips on trying to find out the truth out about their food. I recommend asking the current residents how they like the food. You can even ask to have a meal to see how you like it. Trying the food is the best way for you to tell if it meets your standards. Remember, they are cooking for a big group of people and not every meal is going to be perfect. I am sure that there will be a few complaints, but overall you should be looking for a flexible menu and fresh ingredients.

HealthDay News reported Thursday that the three-year-old Medicare Part D drug program is seeing the number of its enrollees climb, even as costs for the program fall.

The overall costs for Medicare Part D beneficiaries and taxpayers are lower than originally projected. The enrollments continue to rise and customer satisfaction remains very high. Many are still not excited, with many still faulting the program for its complexity, its high co-pays on some drugs and its inability to negotiate lower prices with the drug industry.According to article, the projected cost for Medicare part D is $117 billion lower over the next decade than experts estimated just last summer. At the same time, after the third open enrollment period that ended in December, the plan now has an additional 1.5 million people.Overall, there are about 25.4 million people enrolled in Part D. There are now 39.5 million people, most in Medicare, with some form of drug coverage.Drugcovergae is very important for individuals to think about. It could help lower monthly costs of precriptions dramatically.

Top 5 Questions to ask when visiting a nursing home. These are Tips to Help!

1. What types of insurance will cover my loved ones stay? Don’t forget to ask this question! Some skilled nursing homes only accept Medicare! If you or your loved one has and HMO make sure they know!

2. Do you bill secondary insurance? You may find that nursing homes DO NOT BILL secondary insurance carriers. Be sure to ask before you admit a loved one.

3. Are there additional costs for a private room? Typically the answer is YES. Be sure to ask what the rate difference is before requesting a private room; it could be a lot more than you think.

4. Can I see your state survey report? Did you know that the state surveys nursing homes frequently? Ask if they have any deficiencies and if they passed their survey!

5. Are there RN’s here 24 hours per day? Did you know that not all nursing homes are required to have a Registered Nurse’s scheduled round the clock? Be sure to ask this, it could be critical for your loved one.