{"id":353501,"date":"2017-01-18T16:47:12","date_gmt":"2017-01-18T21:47:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/injury\/torts-and-personal-injuries\/nursing-home-reform-act.html"},"modified":"2025-08-11T11:31:06","modified_gmt":"2025-08-11T16:31:06","slug":"nursing-home-reform-act","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/torts-and-personal-injuries\/nursing-home-reform-act.html","title":{"rendered":"What Is the Nursing Home Reform Act?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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What Is the Nursing Home Reform Act?<\/h1>\n\n
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\n By FindLaw Staff<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Robert Rafii, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n

The Nursing Home Reform Act (NHRA) is a federal law. It created many rights of nursing home residents against abuse and neglect.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

This reform law enacted sweeping changes designed to protect nursing home residents. It also created uniform standards for long-term care facilities and established the Nursing Home Residents’ Bill of Rights.<\/p>\n

Discovering a violation of these rights can be shocking and disturbing. Nursing home residents can suffer severe harm from illegal abuse and neglect. In these complicated situations, you may need both emergency help and legal support. A nursing home abuse lawyer<\/a> can help you better understand the legal options for poor treatment in a care facility.\u00a0<\/p>\n

How Nursing Home Reform Became Law<\/h2>\n

Nursing homes began as a low-regulated industry. The public questioned the quality of care residents received. Despite the large investment of Medicare and Medicaid funds, problems persisted. Nursing home abuse and neglect continued at nursing home facilities. This affected the physical and psychosocial well-being of many full-time residents.<\/p>\n

In the 1980s, public debate reached a turning point. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) publicized a report on these issues.\u00a0Congressional probes<\/a>\u00a0revealed that nursing home residents were often neglected or abused. The federal government had to take action.<\/p>\n

Congress finally created the Federal\u00a0Nursing Home Reform Act<\/a> of 1987 (FNHRA or NHRA). This law passed as part of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Since the 1980s, there have been more legal developments related to the NHRA. In 2023, the Supreme Court ruled on Health and Hospital Corporation of Marion County v. Talevski<\/a>.<\/em> The ruling affirmed that nursing home residents can sue for federal civil rights claims of NHRA violations.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Nursing Home Reform Act Coverage<\/h2>\n

Nursing homes that want to receive government money must follow the Act. Otherwise, they will not receive funding from Medicare or Medicaid<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The law also protects nursing home residents who voice grievances. Nursing home facilities must take care to address legitimate complaints. To ensure the same, government social workers conduct assessments through unannounced surveys.<\/p>\n

States are responsible for inspecting and certifying nursing facilities. They must ensure that facilities receiving government funding are compliant.<\/p>\n

An inspection can discover nursing home violations, such as:<\/p>\n