In 2017, residents at more than two-thirds of Veterans Affairs nursing homes were more likely to suffer serious pain, as well as have serious bedsores, than those in private nursing homes, USA Today reports.
Eight things to know:
1. An analysis of internal documents revealed large numbers of veterans suffered potential neglect or medication mismanagement. The analysis offers a more complete picture of care quality in the nation's 133 VA nursing homes, which serve 46,000 sick and infirm military veterans annually.
2. More than 100 VA nursing homes scored worse than private nursing homes on most key quality indicators, including infection rates and decline in daily living skills, according to the analysis of data obtained by USA TODAY and The Boston Globe. The VA withheld the analysis of data from the public, according to the two news organizations.
3. Nearly half of VA nursing homes across the U.S. — 60 — received the agency's lowest ranking (one out of five stars) as of Dec. 31, 2017, the two news organizations reported. USA TODAY and The Globe are publishing the full data, outlined in internal documents, for every VA nursing facility as of Dec. 31, 2017.
4. The report revealed four VA nursing homes were behind private nursing home averages on 10 of 11 quality indicators. At all four, about one-third of residents were given antipsychotic drugs, which can increase risk of death in elderly patients. This number was nearly twice as much as antipsychotic drugs given in the private sector.
5. The VA contends its residents are typically sicker than those in private facilities. Despite tracking detailed quality statistics on its nursing homes for years, the VA has concealed these measures from the public — leaving veterans without critical health information.
6. VA Press Secretary Curtis Cashour declined to answer questions about whether or when the agency plan to release the quality information and inspection reports.
7. After the investigative report by USA TODAY and The Globe, Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., and Sen. Doug Jones, D-Ala., introduced legislation that would require the VA to release all of its nursing home quality information at least once a year.
That measure and another introduced that would require the VA inspector general to investigate low-ranking VA nursing homes passed the Senate June 25 as part of a government funding bill.
8. Acting VA Secretary Peter O'Rourke told the CBS affiliate in Dallas last week that VA officials were "evaluating exactly what is the most appropriate for us to put out there and that will support continuous improvement and then also will provide good decision-making information for veterans."