DHS AND BEVERLY AGREE ON QUALITY STANDARDS

The Arkansas Department of Human Services and Beverly Healthcare today announced a major new quality assurance program that will benefit nursing home residents in Arkansas.

Beverly, the state's largest nursing home operator, has voluntarily agreed to take the lead in the implementation of numerous programs designed to reinforce quality patient care in Arkansas. The company has also agreed to build two new state-of-the-art facilities in Jacksonville, Arkansas. Late last year the DHS Office of Long Term Care (OLTC) revoked the license of a nursing home owned by Beverly in Jacksonville.

DHS Director Kurt Knickrehm said, "This is an historic agreement that involves a nursing home chain offering to hold itself to higher standards than state law. Beverly has agreed to design, and implement, a progressive program that will involve aggressive self-regulation. We hope that this will create a trend that will be followed by all Arkansas nursing homes."

"This agreement furthers our ongoing commitment and loyalty to our residents, their loved ones and Beverly employees in the state of Arkansas," said Jerry Halley, senior vice president-community division, Beverly Healthcare.

The agreement between DHS and Beverly involves the linking of a nursing home management team's annual bonus to OLTC inspection results at an individual home. Additionally, Beverly has agreed to develop specific plans for its Arkansas nursing homes to recruit and retain qualified staff. The nursing home chain will also evaluate pay rates to nurse aides and work toward a reduction of the numbers of temporary employees.

In fiscal year 1998, the Arkansas Department of Human Services paid $285 million to care for 20,000 nursing home patients. Medicaid in Arkansas is paying for 75 percent of the patients in nursing homes statewide. The per diem rate for skilled care is $75.58 or $27,586 per patient per year.

Contact: Joe Quinn, Director of Communications

Arkansas Department of Human Services

Dan Springer, VP of Public Relations

Beverly Enterprises, Inc.

back to current events