The inappropriate transfer or discharge of nursing home residents has been a longstanding concern for residents, their families, and policymakers. Far too often, residents are pushed out of their nursing home – which is their home – for inappropriate and illegal reasons. This can have a devastating impact on the resident and their family.
To address this problem, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has developed strong protections to ensure that residents are not inappropriately discharged and that, when faced with a facility-initiated discharge, they have a right to 30 days’ notice (except in emergency situations), access to assistance from the LTC Ombudsman Program, and the ability to appeal the discharge. See our fact sheets and other resources on this page for more information and guidance.