The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
October 06, 2014

FACT SHEET: Administration Announces New Executive Actions to Improve Quality of Care for Medicare Beneficiaries

Today, the Administration announced new executive actions and the President signed into law legislation that will improve the quality of care for nursing home and home health patients. The President signed the Improving Medicare Post Acute Care Transformation Act of 2014 (IMPACT Act), bipartisan legislation that puts in place new and streamlined quality measures for nursing homes, home health agencies, and other post-acute care providers participating in Medicare. The Administration also took additional steps to improve care for nursing home and home health patients through new executive actions that will:

  • Expand and strengthen Medicare’s widely-used Five Star Quality Rating System for Nursing Homes, also known as Nursing Home Compare.
  • Improve quality home health care received by Medicare beneficiaries through a proposed rule that strengthens patient rights, improves communication, and focuses on patient well-being.

Actions to Improve Medicare’s Five Star Quality Rating System for Nursing Homes

Today, the Administration announced plans to expand and strengthen Medicare’s widely-used Five Star Quality Rating System for Nursing Homes, also known as Nursing Home Compare.  The rating system is a consumer service that offers useful information to the public about the quality of care in the 15,800 nursing homes that participate in Medicare or Medicaid.  Users may sort through nursing homes in their area through an online tool at CMS’ Nursing Home Compare website. 

The Five Star Quality Rating System offers the most comprehensive overview of nursing home quality in the U.S., in an easy to understand format, based on data from onsite inspections conducted by trained, objective surveyors from state public health departments and CMS; Quality Measures submitted by the nursing homes is used to calculate certain quality measures, such as the prevalence of pressure ulcers, use of restraints, and the extent of injurious falls; and information about the staffing levels in nursing homes.

While the onsite inspections form the core of the rating system, CMS has been concerned that the quality measures and information about staffing levels rely on self-reported data from nursing homes that have been difficult to verify.

Beginning in January 2015 CMS will initiate the following steps to improve the reliability and utility of data displayed on Nursing Home Compare as well as to help nursing homes improve: 

  • Nationwide Focused Survey Inspections:  In FY 2014 CMS piloted special surveys of nursing homes that focused on verifying performance on resident assessments and the data set that is used in the quality measures.  Effective January 2015, CMS and states will implement these focused survey inspections nationwide for a sample of nursing homes nationwide.  Expansion of these inspections will enable better verification of both the staffing and quality measure information that is part of the Five-Star Quality Rating System.
  • Payroll-Based Staffing Reporting: Using new funding provided by the IMPACT Act of 2014, signed by the President today, CMS will implement a system of quarterly electronic reporting that is auditable back to payrolls to verify staffing information.  This new system will increase accuracy, improve the timeliness of the data, and allow for the calculation of quality measures for staff turnover, retention, types of staffing, and levels of different types of staffing.  This data will not only allow for better information available to the public, but may equip nursing homes with better data by which to improve staffing and quality of care.  CMS expects that pilot testing will occur in fiscal year (FY) 2015, with nationwide reporting by all nursing homes by the end of FY2016.
  • Improved Scoring Methodology: CMS will revise the scoring methodology by which we calculate each facility’s Five Star rating. The revised scoring methods will place more emphasis on data that is verified by independent sources rather than data that is self-reported by nursing homes.
  • Timely and Complete Inspection Data: CMS will also strengthen requirements to ensure that states complete inspections of nursing homes in a timely and accurate manner, and maintain a user-friendly website for public viewing.
  • Additional Quality Measures: CMS will increase both the number and type of quality measures used in Nursing Home Compare.  The first additional measure starting January 2015 in the ratings system will be the extent to which anti-psychotic medications are in use. More measures will be added later, including data on re-hospitalization and rates of returning beneficiaries to home that use Medicare claims as the source of information. 

Actions to Improve Quality Home Health Care Received by Medicare Beneficiaries

In conjunction with today’s efforts to improve the quality of care received by Medicare beneficiaries in nursing homes, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services today issued a proposed rule that strengthens patient rights, improves communication, and focuses on patient well-being. These rules are designed to improve the quality of home health services for Medicare beneficiaries.

These updates to home health agency conditions of participation (CoPs) make substantial revisions to the existing CoPs.  They focus on the care needs of patients and will clarify the operational and quality expectations for the approximately 12,500 home health agencies participating in Medicare. There are more than five million people with Medicare and Medicaid benefits who receive home health care services each year.

The proposed regulation, will include these proposed updates:

  • A clear explanation of patient rights, including a requirement to communicate with patients in a language and manner that they understand, and a requirement that home health agencies must take measures to assure and protect those rights.
  • An expanded comprehensive patient assessment requirement that focuses on all aspects of patient well-being.
  • An integrated communication system, increasingly enabled by health information technology, that ensures that patient needs are identified and addressed, care is coordinated among all disciplines, and that there is active, timely, needs-based communication between the home health agency and the physician.
  • A data-driven, agency-wide quality assessment and performance improvement program that continually evaluates and improves agency care for patients.
  • An expanded patient care coordination requirement that makes a licensed clinician responsible for all patient care services, such as coordinating referrals and assuring that plans of care meet each patient’s needs at all times.

Comments and feedback are requested to inform final rulemaking in 2015.

IMPACT Act

The President signed the Improving Medicare Post-Acute Care Transformation Act of 2014, bipartisan legislation that puts in place new and streamlined quality measures for nursing homes, home health agencies, and other post-acute care providers participating in Medicare.

The Act will facilitate patients comparing outcomes across different care settings, supporting better choices and better outcomes for patients. In addition, the IMPACT Act funds a key improvement to nursing home oversight, the collection of staffing data. Nursing and other staffing levels are closely correlated with quality in nursing homes and current data collection efforts have produced data of uneven reliability. The IMPACT Act also institutes more routine surveys of hospice providers, ensuring program standards are met for the benefit and safety of patients.

The White House

Office of the Vice President

For Immediate Release
October 06, 2014

Readout of the Vice President’s Call with Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic

Vice President Joe Biden spoke today with Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic to discuss bilateral relations and regional political dynamics in southeastern Europe. The Vice President congratulated Prime Minister Vucic for his focus on economic reforms and improving Serbia’s business climate, and the two leaders discussed ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the political and economic spheres.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
October 06, 2014

Readout of the President's Meeting with Independent Financial Regulators

President Obama hosted a discussion today in the Roosevelt Room with lead financial regulators and senior advisors on the economy and the ongoing implementation of Wall Street Reform.

Six years after the depths of the financial crisis, the President commended regulators for their efforts to further strengthen the financial system by continuing to implement the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, which includes the most sweeping set of financial regulatory reforms since the Great Depression and the strongest consumer protections in history that have afforded millions of hard-working Americans new rights and protections within the financial sector. 

The President noted the leadership of U.S. banking regulators in raising capital standards and urged regulators to maintain focus on ensuring that prudent capital cushions are in place, particularly for the largest, most complex global firms, to provide further protection for the U.S. financial system. The President acknowledged the collaborative work of the regulators, specifically recognizing their work in finalizing the Volcker Rule, and also urged participants to consider additional ways to prevent excessive risk-taking across the financial system, including as they continue to work on compensation rules and capital standards. 

Participants discussed the importance of continued coordination through the Financial Stability Oversight Council to identify and mitigate risks to the financial system and address areas of overlap or gaps in oversight. The President asked regulators to evaluate where their agencies’ actions have been most effective and where standards could be tailored for the size and complexity of different institutions.

Finally, participants noted existing budgetary constraints for the market regulators and reiterated the need for additional resources and stability of funding to help protect middle class families, safeguard the financial system, pursue bad actors, and fulfill their missions.

Participants in today’s meeting included:

  • Janet Yellen, Chair of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
  • Mary Jo White, Chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission
  • Martin Gruenberg, Chair of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
  • Mel Watt, Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency
  • Richard Cordray, Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
  • Timothy Massad, Chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission
  • Thomas Curry, Comptroller of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
  • Debbie Matz, Chairman of the National Credit Union Administration

White House and Administration Participants:

  • Jack Lew, Secretary of the Treasury
  • Shaun Donovan, Director of the Office of Management and Budget
  • Jason Furman, Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers
  • Jeff Zients, Director of the National Economic Council and Assistant to the President for Economic Policy
  • Brian Deese, Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget
  • Neil Eggleston, White House Counsel
  • Sarah Bloom Raskin, Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Treasury
  • Seth Wheeler, Special Assistant to the President for Economic Policy

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
October 06, 2014

White House Announces Jonathan McBride to Step Down as Assistant to the President & Director of Presidential Personnel

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the White House announced that Jonathan McBride will be stepping down from his position as Assistant to the President & Director of Presidential Personnel in late November.

“As Director of Presidential Personnel, Jonathan McBride has helped ensure this Administration and the American people can count on the most talented, dedicated public servants who work diligently and effectively each day to move our country forward and uphold the public trust,” President Obama said.  “I’m grateful to Jonathan for his service, judgment and sound counsel.”

Jonathan McBride was appointed Director of the Presidential Personnel office in July 2013. He joined the administration as a Special Assistant to the President and the Deputy Director of the Presidential Personnel Office in August, 2009. In February, 2012 he was promoted to be a Deputy Assistant to the President. Prior to serving in the White House, Mr. McBride was the Chief Strategy Officer with Universum, a global Employer Branding company, and served as the company’s most senior consultant to companies and agencies looking to attract and recruit top talent. In 2000, Mr. McBride co-founded Jungle Media Group, an award-winning media company. Jungle’s magazines, websites, and live events served a variety of audiences including MBAs, JDs, college students, African American young professionals, and Hispanic young professionals. The content focused on the ‘career lifestyle’ and informed its readers about how to best navigate current and future career moves. Mr. McBride also worked for Goldman Sachs from 1997 to 2000 and U.S. Senator Herb Kohl from 1992 to 1995. He received his B.A. in Economics and U.S. History from Connecticut College and MBA in Finance from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. He is a former Trustee of Connecticut College and the National Urban League.

The White House

Office of the Vice President

For Immediate Release
October 03, 2014

Statement by Vice President Biden on the October 3 Attack on United Nations Peacekeepers in Mali

The United States condemns the violent ambush yesterday in northern Mali that killed nine U.N. peacekeepers from Niger. I extend my deepest condolences to the families, friends, and loved ones of those killed, as well as to the people and Government of Niger. This is the latest in a series of brazen attacks on peacekeepers serving in the U.N. mission in Mali (MINUSMA), including those from Chad, that have taken the lives of 30 peacekeepers and wounded 90 more in the 15 months since MINUSMA first deployed. These and other peacekeepers, in Mali and elsewhere around the globe, bravely serve on behalf of the entire international community, helping to restore peace and bring security to civilians. As I said last week at a summit on peacekeeping, the United States strongly supports U.N. peacekeepers, who are deployed worldwide in record numbers to more difficult and dangerous environments than ever before. We are grateful for their contributions to international peace and security, and we honor the sacrifices they have made on behalf of the international community.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
October 03, 2014

Statement by the Press Secretary on the Government of the Netherlands Decision to Authorize Military Force Against ISIL

The United States welcomes the decision this week by the Government of the Netherlands to send up to eight F-16 fighters and 250 support personnel to conduct airstrikes against ISIL in Iraq. In addition, the Netherlands will dispatch up to 130 military personnel to assist with the training of Iraqi Security Forces. This military contribution is in addition to broader actions the Dutch government has already taken, including providing humanitarian assistance and diplomatic support, taking steps to counter the illicit financing of terrorism, and enacting measures to help prevent the movement of foreign fighters. These actions demonstrate the continued commitment and leadership by the Dutch to take action as necessary to counter threats to international peace and stability. The United States is proud of its longstanding friendship and partnership with the Netherlands and its people, and we look forward to working closely with them and other international partners in our comprehensive approach to degrade and ultimately destroy ISIL.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
October 03, 2014

Readout of the President’s Call with U.S. Africa Command Commander General David Rodriguez

The President spoke by phone this afternoon with General David Rodriguez, Commander of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), who provided an update on the U.S. government’s response to the Ebola epidemic in West Africa. The President and General Rodriguez discussed the progress of the response, known as Operation United Assistance, whose Joint Force Command deployed in mid-September. They noted that this Operation is bringing additional speed and scale to the U.S. government's regional response led by USAID, and the President underscored the pivotal role of American leadership in containing the epidemic at its source.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
October 03, 2014

Statement by the President on the Death of Alan Henning

The United States strongly condemns the brutal murder of United Kingdom citizen Alan Henning by the terrorist group ISIL. Mr. Henning worked to help improve the lives of the Syrian people and his death is a great loss for them, for his family and the people of the United Kingdom. Standing together with our UK friends and allies, we will work to bring the perpetrators of Alan's murder – as well as the murders of Jim Foley, Steven Sotloff and David Haines – to justice. Standing together with a broad coalition of allies and partners, we will continue taking decisive action to degrade and ultimately destroy ISIL.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
October 03, 2014

Statement by the President on Hajj and Eid al-Adha

Michelle and I would like to extend our best wishes to Muslims in the United States and around the world who are celebrating Eid al-Adha, and to congratulate those performing the Hajj this year. 

As our Muslim neighbors and friends gather for Eid celebrations, Muslim Americans are among the millions of pilgrims joining one of the world’s largest and most diverse gatherings.  Hajj brings together Muslims from around the world – Sunni and Shiite – to share in reverent prayer, side by side.  It serves as a reminder that no matter one’s tribe or sect, race or religion, gender or age, we are equals in humanity.

On Eid, Muslims continue the tradition of donating to the poor and joining efforts with other faith communities in providing assistance to those suffering from hunger, sickness, oppression, and conflict.  Their service is a powerful example of the shared roots of the world’s Abrahamic faiths and how our communities can come together in shared peace, with dignity and a sense of justice.

On behalf of the American people, we extend our warmest greetings during this holiday.  May the prayers of peace made by the Hajj pilgrims and those of all faiths around the world be heard and granted.  Eid Mubarak.

The White House

Office of the Vice President

For Immediate Release
October 03, 2014

Readout of the Vice President's Call with President Erdogan of Turkey

Vice President Joe Biden spoke today with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to follow up on their meeting in New York on September 25. The two leaders discussed ways the United States and Turkey can work together to degrade and destroy the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) and restore security and stability to the region.