Television Investigative News Report Focuses on N.H. Lobby in Pennsylvania

WTAE-TV in Pittsburgh, offers an inside look into the alleged role of nursing home lobbyists associated with the Pennsylvania Health Care Association (PHCA) in crafting a notice posted by the Pennsylvania Department of Health, stating that its inspection survey reports “are not intended to be evidence of compliance with any legal standard of care in third-party litigation.”  (According to WTAE-TV, an original “disclaimer” label on the notice was recently changed by the Department of Health to “explainer.”)

Here’s a link to coverage, including an article and video, at WTAE-TV: “Emails reveal nursing home lobbyists pressuring state on lawsuits — Inspection reports not allowed in lawsuits?”

UPDATE:  Here is a link to the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s nursing care facility locator website, where a detailed “Explanation” of the survey inspection process appears.  The notice includes the language quoted by the news report above, and appears the first time you access that website.  However, once you press “okay” on the notice, it disappears. 

Additional Update: Here is another link to “just” the explanation.  As several readers commented, the location of this explanation on the Department of Health website is potentially  confusing, as it appears to apply to any Medicaid or Medicare provider that is subject to inspections, but the title on the page as of today’s date says “except nursing homes.”