POST-ACUTE
OBRA: One Thing the Feds Got Right Study shows 1987 law has led to improved nursing home care
In 1987, the Omnibus Reconciliation Act (OBRA) called for a dramatic overhaul of the nursing home quality assurance system, following published reports about
Facility characteristics ʯ The nursing home industry decreased in size, from 19,068
resident abuse, neglect and a lack of regulation and oversight.
facilities in 1985 to 15,686 in 2016.
ʯ There has also been an increase in In retrospect, it looks like the feds
physical and cognitive function among
the percentage of facilities that are
residents decreased. Findings from
nonprofit (25% in 1985 and 31% in
the study, by researchers at Brown
2015) and that are dually certified by
February 2020 Journal of Post-Acute and
University and the U.S. Department
both Medicare and Medicaid (33% in
Long-Term Care Medicine indicates that
of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in
between 1985 and 2015, the quality of
Providence, Rhode Island, include
nursing home care improved, even as
the following:
made the right call. An analysis published in the
38
1985 and up to 97% in 2015).
ʯ Between 1995 and 2015, chain membership increased from 51%
April 2020 | The Journal of Healthcare Contracting
