The Idaho Stateman reports the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare was warned by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) last month to cease posting the results of nursing home and hospital inspections on its Web site for public review.
CMS told officials at the Idaho health agency that surveys of such facilities were to be released only after written requests under the Freedom of Information Act, and only provided that nothing in such reports can be used to identify individual patients and staff. Department of Health and Welfare officials have appealed the change and further postings of inspection results are on hold until response is received.