Study Finds Predictable Nursing Home Inspections Linked to Higher Mortality Rates

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A new study published in the Social Science Research Network has found that predictable nursing home inspection schedules are associated with higher patient mortality rates. Researchers from UCLA, the University of Chicago, and Lehigh University analyzed nursing home data and discovered that facilities tend to reduce staffing levels after an inspection, when the chance of another inspection is lowest, and then ramp up staffing as the next potential inspection grows closer. This pattern resulted in higher mortality rates when inspection risk and staffing levels were lower.

Why it matters

The findings suggest that making nursing home inspection timing more unpredictable could lead to improved patient outcomes and reduced administrative burden compared to simply increasing inspection frequency. This is an important issue as policymakers and regulators look for ways to ensure high-quality care in long-term care facilities.

The details

The researchers studied nursing home administrative data to identify potential correlations between staffing levels, care quality, health outcomes, and inspection schedules. They found that nursing homes reduced staffing levels after an inspection, when the chance of another inspection was lowest, and then ramped up staffing as the next potential inspection grew closer. This pattern resulted in higher mortality rates when inspection risk and staffing levels were lower. The study suggests that making inspection timing more unpredictable could improve nursing home patient mortality rates by about 12%, while creating less administrative burden and cost than simply increasing inspection frequency.

• The study was published on December 15, 2026.

What’s next

Policymakers and regulators may consider implementing more unpredictable nursing home inspection schedules to improve patient outcomes.