Nursing homes failed to report 43% of falls that resulted in major injury and hospitalization among Medicare-enrolled residents, according to a report published Sept. 18 by the HHS Office of Inspector General.
The findings raise concerns about the accuracy of fall-related quality measures listed on CMS’ Care Compare website, which relies on self-reported data from nursing homes.
The report found that for-profit, chain-owned and larger facilities underreported falls more frequently. Nonrural nursing homes and those serving younger, male or short-stay Medicare residents were also less likely to report fall incidents.
The Office of Inspector General said facilities with the lowest fall rates on Care Compare were also the least likely to report major fall events, suggesting that publicly displayed fall rates may reflect underreporting rather than better safety performance.
Read the full report here.
