Senator Williams Outlines Nursing Home Review Plan, Program Includes Additional Funding for Staff

A tougher, more responsive complaint process to help guard against abuse or neglect, uniform procedures for nursing home inspections and increased funding for better staffing are among the reforms being suggested by a Tulsa state legislator who is leading a State Senate review of the
industry.

Senator Penny Williams is working to pass reform legislation to address problems uncovered in the ongoing investigation of the State Health Department's nursing home inspection process.

"To guarantee that elderly Oklahomans aren't being abused or neglected and are actually getting the care that they deserve, it's critical that we have a complaint and inspection process that is tough and responsive. If the process is just window dressing, then it's not helping the people who need it most," said Senator Williams.

"Adequate staffing is also a key. We can enact all the reforms in the world, but unless we can entice enough good people to work in nursing homes, we can't ensure high-quality care for the elderly. The surest way to attract and retain good staff people is with money."

In the past week, the Tulsa legislator has been gathering information about the state's current system of oversight and its responsiveness to public concerns, trying to identify areas that legislation may be able to address.

Some of the proposals that she plans to include in the final reform bill are:

• In an effort to prevent possible cases of abuse or neglect, all nursing home complaints must be investigated within 30 days;
  
  
• Investigations must include interviews with the individual filing the complaint and the nursing home resident, in addition to other possible witnesses;
  
  
• Within 10 days of the investigation's conclusion, a report of findings must be presented to the individuals who lodged the complaint;
  
  
• The State Health Department must also make a concerted effort at all levels to improve communications with families and individuals that lodge complaints;
  
  
• The State Health Department must establish and follow uniform procedures to guide all nursing home investigations and inspections, ensuring that uniform standards are applied fairly without favoritism;
  
  
• The State Health Department must identify and remedy any conflicts of interest among current and future staff, in addition to establishing policies that prohibit agency staff from participating in any type of employment or paid consultation with any provider licensed by the agency; and
  
  
• A daily per bed fee should be assessed at nursing homes to leverage additional federal matching money. The additional funds should be used to increase the number direct care staff and raise their pay.

"Until we are assured that every single nursing home inspection is conducted in the same, thorough manner, regardless of what facility is under the microscope, we won't have an effective oversight process. People need to know that every nursing home is being treated the same, no matter who the owner is or field inspector is. There must be confidence in the system," said Senator Williams.

In addition to the items detailed above, Senator Williams wants to restore financial sanctions for nursing homes that don't meet required staffing levels, install a stronger system of checks and balances for long-term care regulation and address other issues related to the possible abuse or neglect of nursing home residents.

According to the Tulsa legislator, many of the proposals can be implemented immediately, but others may take longer. She said she would continue to work with elderly advocates and families of nursing home residents to ensure that necessary changes are made as quickly as possible.

"I know we can't solve this problem overnight, but we can make significant headway before the legislative session adjourns. I want to make sure that we don't forget about the other pressing needs simply because we can't address them all in the short time that remains. This is a long-term problem that will require a long-term solution," said Senator Williams.