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Many state-level contacts are available to you or your family, such as a long–term care ombudsman, your state survey agency, or your state quality improvement organization.


You may call them if you have questions specific to your state, such as state laws, benefits or licensing. You may also choose to call them with a concern or complaint about the quality of care you or your family member gets from a nursing home, if you are unable to get a satisfactory resolution from your nursing home.


Long Term Care Ombudsman

An advocate (supporter) who works to solve problems between residents and nursing homes, as well as assisted living facilities. Long Term Care Ombudsmen are located in every state.


State Survey Agencies

These are agencies of State governments, typically the agency that licenses health facilities within the State Health Departments. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has entered into agreements with these agencies, to conduct surveys (inspections) of providers and suppliers in order to determine if they comply with Medicare requirements.


Quality Improvement Organizations

Quality Improvement Organizations (QIOs) assist beneficiaries with Nursing Home Quality. A QIO is a group of practicing doctors and other health care experts paid by the Federal government to check and improve the care given to people with Medicare. QIOs are available to help beneficiaries who have questions about how to use the quality information in selecting a nursing home.



Page Last Updated: December 17, 2008