LANSING — State Representative Kathy Angerer (D-Dundee), who is Chair of the House Health Policy Committee, today heard testimony as part of the first in a series of statewide hearings to examine the growing role private equity firms have in providing senior care.
"Given the magnitude and implications of this proposed buyout, we must ensure that quality care for Michigan seniors is not compromised," Angerer said. "There is no single greater issue in the health care field than access to quality care for Michigan residents, and these hearings are part of our effort to protect."
In a joint committee hearing held Thursday morning at the State Capitol, the House Health Policy Committee and the House Senior Health, Security and Retirement Committee took testimony from a senior care expert and from the state Department of Community Health.
"Today's hearing was just the first step in a thorough examination of the trend of investment health care," Angerer said. "We all learned a great deal from the experts who testified at today's hearing, and we hope to learn even more in the near future."
Additional hearings will be held around the state. These hearings come in the wake of The Carlyle Group's controversial announcement that it intends to buy 28 Michigan nursing homes owned by Manor Care Inc.
A Sept. 23 New York Times investigation found that nursing homes acquired by private equity firms suffered from more serious quality of care deficiencies and cuts in staffing, sometimes far below levels required by law.
"As legislators, we have a duty to protect Michigan seniors and their families," said State Representative Robert Jones (D-Kalamazoo), Chair of the House Senior Health, Security and Retirement Committee. "Private equity firms' buying nursing homes is a growing trend, and we must be certain that Wall Street profits won't negatively impact senior health care in Michigan."