Governor Schwarzenegger signs bill to complete program initiated locally.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael Antonovich is hailing the signing of Assembly Bill 215, which will require that state nursing homes post assigned grades reflecting their quality ratings. The nursing home grading system was kicked off by Antonovich at the LA County level, and recent legislation by Santa Clarita's Assemblyman Cameron Smyth and Assemblyman Mike Feuer has made it law, beginning January 1, 2011.

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"In reflecting on this past year, one bright light that shines across our County and State and will enhance the quality of care for our senior citizens was the state law I initiated requiring nursing homes to publicly display their five-star rating issued by the Federal Government's Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service," said Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich, who also led the charge in establishing the County's successful restaurant grading system in 1997. "This posting system provides vital information for families to make informed decisions about the care for their loved ones and provides incentives for nursing homes operators to establish and maintain high-quality standards of care and compliance."

The rating system covers quality of medical care, staffing levels, food services, sanitation, bedsore mitigation and the results of licensing inspections. The system designates five stars for the highest rated facilities, down to one star for the poorest.

The ratings have already been designated, however until this law goes into effect, nursing homes will not be required to post them.

While the nursing home grade posting system program does not go into effect until 2011, Antonovich has made the Nursing Home Compare Tool accessible now at www.antonovich.com.