Auditor General: PA Working To Address Lax Oversight Of Nursing Homes

By Tony Romeo

HARRISBURG, Pa. (CBS) -- Pennsylvania's auditor general says the state is working to improve oversight of nursing homes after the discovery of deficiencies by his office.

Auditor General Eugene DePasquale says his audit of state oversight of nursing homes from January of 2014 through October of last year found there was an inadequate review of nurse staffing levels and problems with the handling of complaints.

In particular, DePasquale cites a decision by the previous administration that stopped anonymous complaints.

"In July of 2012, [they] stopped accepting anonymous complaints. In my view, that decision is breathtaking."

DePasquale says that policy lasted for three years.

He says in general, the audit shows the state really didn't know what the situation was at Pennsylvania nursing homes. But he praised the current health secretary and administration for requesting the independent review and for making improvements even before the audit was complete.