# What This Bill Does

This bill requires nursing homes to report who their medical directors are and make that information available to the public. Right now, nursing homes have to report certain information about their staff to the government, but medical directors aren't specifically included in those requirements. This bill closes that gap by making sure nursing homes tell the government who their medical directors are, and then the government has to post those names on the Nursing Home Compare website where anyone can look it up.

# Why This Matters

If you're looking for a nursing home for yourself or a loved one, you probably want to know who's in charge of the medical care. The medical director is the doctor or healthcare professional responsible for overseeing all the medical decisions and quality of care at that facility. Right now, that information isn't easy to find. This bill would make it transparent so families can research the medical director's background, credentials, and any potential problems before choosing a facility. It's similar to how you can already look up other information about nursing homes online to compare quality and safety records.

# The Timeline

The government has two years to update its rules to require this reporting. Once those new rules are published, nursing homes will have 90 days to start including medical director information in their reports. Then, within six months after that, the government will make all this information publicly searchable on the Nursing Home Compare website. So while this won't happen immediately, within roughly three years, families should be able to easily find out who the medical director is at any nursing home they're considering.

To amend title XI of the Social Security Act to ensure nursing facilities report information on medical directors of such facilities.

Rep. Levin, Mike [D-CA-49]

 <p>This bill requires the Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services to revise regulations so as to specifically require Medicare skilled nursing facilities and Medicaid nursing facilities to report the identity of medical directors and related information.</p>