Let's talk: You'd like to know who watches over health care in Utah?

The Utah Bureau of Health Facility Licensing, Certification and Resident Assessment is responsible for the licensing and regulating of Utah's health care facilities. Hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, institutions for the developmentally disabled and for the mentally ill, home health agencies, and many other types of providers are included.

The Bureau approves licenses, holds inspections and surveys, reviews plans for building facilities, does background checks on personal on certain health care occupations, and uses fines, bans and closures to enforce regualtions.

The Bureau is authorized by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to certify medical facilities and providers and skilled nursing facilities in the Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement programs.

They also investigate complaints, although Utah's Long Term care Ombudsmen are also a great help in dealing with situations. If you have a complaint about Residents'/Patients' rights, abuse, or quality of life and quality of care, the bureau's website recommends either the Ombudsman or its toll-free Hotline at 800-371-7897. There is a special Hotline for Home Health care complaints at (800) 999-7339.

More Info
We have more information about how long term care facilities and agencies are regulated, and about filing complaints, at Let's talk: Who is watching over health care in your state?

Good luck! You are invited to drop me a line and tell me your story about how you solved situations in long term care for your loved one. We may publish selected ones if they would help educate our audience (we will not include names or email addresses). Click to send your email.