Officials relent on new pharmacy regulation for nursing homes

Medicare officials last week backed off a proposal that would have required long-term care facilities to hire consultant pharmacists to review medications prescribed to residents.

Officials conceded that the regulation, which was proposed in October, would be highly disruptive. In a teleconference call, Jonathan Blum, deputy director for the Centers for Medicare & Medicare Services, said the regulation had been proposed out of concern about nursing home residents being inappropriately medicated with anti-psychotic drugs.

Now, officials are encouraging nursing homes to voluntarily adjust medication guidelines to avoid tougher regulations. Under existing law, nursing homes must review drug regimens monthly—a task often performed by the same companies supplying medications.