LANSING – State Representatives Kathy Angerer (D-Dundee) and Kate Ebli (D-Monroe) today voted for a plan that will protect seniors by increasing accountability and quality of care standards at nursing homes.
"The care of our seniors should never be compromised for the sake of a private company's bottom line," said Angerer, a lead sponsor of the plan. "Our nursing homes must be held to the highest quality of care standards and the safety of their patients must be a top priority. This plan will hold private investors accountable when they look to acquire a nursing home and ensure our seniors are receiving the care they deserve."
Testimony in front of the House Senior Health, Security and Retirement Committee has shown that current state law does not allow for strong enough oversight and enforcement of nursing homes owned by private equity firms. Such facilities have been equated with unacceptable care and conditions.
The plan passed by the House today takes aim at the issues raised in front of the Committee by:
- Requiring owners of nursing homes to disclose resources and be held accountable for delinquent care, and requiring owners to prove they have the proper resources to provide quality care.
- Triggering a change of ownership whenever a large corporation buys a nursing home, which will allow the Department of Community Health to decide whether to license the nursing home.
- Requiring that notice be given to residents and their relatives or guardians at least 30 days prior to a change of ownership, giving them time to make a decision to change facilities.
- Establishing penalties for nursing home employees or administrators who provide fraudulent information to nursing home surveyors or investigators.
- Requiring that every nursing home be properly insured.
"These are our grandparents, parents and family friends," Ebli said. "Our residents deserve higher quality of care standards – not lower. By improving the oversight and transparency of nursing home owners, we are protecting our seniors and improving patient safety for some of our most vulnerable residents."