Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987 and its implications for the medical director

The nursing home reform amendments passed by Congress in 1987 (known as OBRA 87) have several sections that are relevant to medical practice and medical direction in the nursing home. The regulations and interpretive guides specify the medical director's role, physician services, resident assessments, resident rights, and restrictions on the use of chemical and physical restraints. This article provides the nursing home attending physician and medical director with basic information to help bring medical services into regulatory compliance.