North Carolina will be instituing a new long term care rating system.  But the benefits to consumers are not yet cut and dry.  Here's an excerpt from today's Raleigh-area News and Observer:

Older North Carolinians and their families will have more guidance on their choices in long-term care under a new law that sets up rated certificates for adult care-homes.

AARP and other advocates say passage of that law on adult-care homes -- along with others affecting older and disabled residents -- made for a mostly positive outcome in the state legislative session that ended Thursday.

"There have been a lot of things that relate to quality of care, access to services and helping persons of limited means," said Mary Bethel, an AARP lobbyist.

Representatives of the long-term care industry, however, say the certificates will result in a two-tiered system of care -- one for adult-care homes with a majority of private-pay residents and another for homes where Medicaid pays for most residents' care.

 Here at LTCtree, we believe that open access to information is a good idea.  We like transparency.  Just like every restaurant we dine in is rated, so should be our possible future long term care homes.  Let us know your thoughts on this important issue!