New long term care commission packs political muscle.(Briefly)(Brief Article)

In an effort to evaluate the quality of long term care, federal and state lawmakers and association leaders in October formed the National Commission for Quality Long Term Care.

The new group, headquartered in Washington D.C., is co-chaired by former Sen. Bob Kerrey and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, according to Tammy McBride, the National Quality Forum's senior program director.

McBride said the commission's goals are to recommend national goals and objectives for long term care quality improvement, report on quality indicators and measures, provide a forum for public dialogue among long term care professionals, review quality-related policy proposals …