LANSING – State Representative Marie Donigan (D-Royal Oak) today voted for a plan that will protect seniors by increasing accountability and quality of care standards at nursing homes.
"Our nursing home residents aren't just patients – they are our family members and loved ones," said Donigan, a lead sponsor of the plan. "Too often their health and safety is compromised. Passing this plan is vital to ensuring transparency and the highest quality of care for our most vulnerable residents."
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.
"Nursing homes are responsible for the care of thousands of people throughout our state and they must be held to higher standards," Donigan said. "These facilities need to be properly licensed and insured so they can provide quality care. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to take action to protect our residents' and seniors' best interests."