05/07/2026

OIG Contends Nursing Homes Lack Adequate, Reliable Emergency Power Systems

A report released on April 29 from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) contends that most nursing homes in the United States do not have adequate or reliable sources of emergency power. This conclusion was based on a review of 100 sampled nursing homes at which OIG interviewed nursing home officials, reviewed emergency power system records, and completed site visits. 

From this audit, OIG determined that 72 of 100 nursing homes were noncompliant with federal requirements. A total of 119 deficiencies were identified through this audit to include inadequate maintenance of generators, inadequate circuit coverage, and generators that were out of date, quantified as aged 40 years or more. From these results, OIG estimates that 73% of all nursing homes in the United States have inadequate or unreliable emergency power systems. Specifically, OIG estimates that 53% demonstrate inadequate generator maintenance, 39% have generators with inadequate circuit coverage, and 10% have generators 40 years of age or older. 

OIG recommended that CMS share results of this audit with nursing homes and emphasize the importance of having adequate and reliable emergency power systems.