Nursing homes must meet new requirements.

Under the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987, skilled nursing facilities and intermediate care facilities must meet new requirements to receive Medicare and Medicaid payments. These requirements emphasize the quality of care and quality of institutional life. The new law modifies the Medicare and Medicaid certification process and broadens the sanctions that can be applied to substandard facilities. Nursing home administrators must carefully document the additional costs, conduct comprehensive assessments, protect residents' rights, and establish or restructure a quality assurance committee.