Nonprofit nursing homes provide more hours of direct nursing care and average fewer deficiencies than their for-profit counterparts, a consumer Web site reports this week.
The average number of hours of registered nurse (RN) care per resident day at nonprofit facilities more than doubled that at for-profits. That’s according to ConsumerAffairs.Com, an independent Web-based consumer news and resource center, citing a review of federal data from 2000. It did not indicate whether the gap had narrowed in more recent years.
In addition, licensed practical nurse (LPN) hours were 21% higher and certified nurse aide hours were 18% higher at nonprofits. The government data also indicated that, on average, nonprofits spent 11% more than for-profits on direct daily care per resident. Information for the report was obtained from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (then called the Health Care Financing Administration, or HCFA).
Nonprofits also spent about one-fifth more than their for-profit counterparts on non-direct care costs, such as housekeeping, food and social services.
Taking a look at 1999 HCFA statistics, ConsumerAffairs.com also reports that non-profits had nearly 34% fewer deficiencies than for-profits, according to surveyor results.
