Katie Smith Sloan

Providers returned fire after a dozen Senators recently expressed their “deep concern” about delaying and reducing federal penalties against nursing homes.

Critics, including the lawmakers, say that since President Trump took office, a series of memos from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has aimed to make it harder to fine or deny federal payments to nursing homes that don’t meet certain standards.

“In reality, nothing in the three CMS memos changes the requirement that nursing homes comply with federal regulations and correct deficiencies,” countered LeadingAge President and CEO Katie Smith Sloan. “The memos do not weaken enforcement of this requirement.”