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Under the new initiative, HHS' Administration on Aging (AoA) and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will work with ombudsmen to help consumers take advantage of new quality measures for nursing homes developed under HHS' Nursing Home Quality Initiative.

"This new partnership will help families take advantage of our new quality information about nursing homes as they make critical decisions about choosing a nursing home," Secretary Thompson said. "For 30 years, the nation's volunteer ombudsmen have worked to protect nursing home residents and improve the quality of care. They are a trusted source of support and information, and they can make a real difference in helping families get the best possible care."

AoA's long-term care ombudsman program involves 1,000 paid staff and 8,000 volunteers who are trained to handle complaints about nursing homes. Ombudsmen serve as advocates for nursing home residents, often helping families choose an appropriate nursing home and resolve concerns about quality of care in specific facilities. In 2000, ombudsmen provided information to 245,000 people and responded to about 232,000 complaints from the public.

HHS last month released new quality data on Medicare and Medicaid-certified nursing homes in Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Ohio, Rhode Island and Washington and expects to expand the initiative nationally later this year. The data and other comparative information about nursing homes is available at Medicare's consumer Web site, www.medicare.gov, and through Medicare's help line, 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).

Under the partnership announced today, ombudsmen will work with CMS' Quality Improvement Organizations (QIOs) to respond more effectively to consumer inquiries and educate consumers about the new quality measures. Ombudsmen also will share information with the QIOs about quality issues in nursing homes where improvements are needed. The two programs will work together to determine appropriate referral of consumer calls.

"Ombudsmen provide a voice for those unable to speak for themselves," HHS Assistant Secretary for Aging Josefina G. Carbonell said. "For 30 years, the program's staff and thousands of volunteers have worked diligently in communities across America to resolve problems facing individual residents and to promote real improvements in the quality of long-term care. They reflect the spirit of volunteerism that President Bush has highlighted in his national call to community service."

"Improving the quality of care available in nursing homes is one of our top goals, and we are all in this together -- residents, families, homes, nurses, employees and patient advocates," CMS Administrator Tom Scully said. "Ombudsmen play a key role in advancing our efforts to improve the quality of care available by promoting new and improved quality data. Their support is essential in helping QIOs educate more Americans about their long-term care options."

More information about AoA's Long Term Care Ombudsman program is available at www.ltcombudsman.org. More information about HHS' Nursing Home Quality Initiative is available atwww.cms.hhs.gov. Comparative data about nursing homes, as well as a consumer guide to choosing a nursing home, is available through "Nursing Home Compare" at www.medicare.gov.

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