What is the primary focus of the Federal Nursing Home Reform Act (OBRA)?

The Federal Nursing Home Reform Act (OBRA) is primarily centered on ensuring quality care and improving the quality of life for residents in nursing facilities. This landmark legislation was enacted to establish comprehensive standards that must be met by nursing homes participating in Medicare and Medicaid programs. The focus is on resident rights, the necessity of individualized care plans, and the improvement of living conditions across nursing homes.

This act emphasizes the dignity, choice, and independence of residents, mandating that facilities provide services and activities that enhance their overall well-being. It aims to protect residents from abuse and neglect, ensuring they receive appropriate care that meets their medical and personal needs.

Funding enhancement or staffing increases, while important, are not the primary objectives of OBRA; rather, they are means through which the overarching goals of quality of care and improved resident life can be achieved. The regulation of service prices, although a factor in the broader context of nursing home operations, does not reflect the core intent of the Act, which is fundamentally about resident care and rights.