New Bill Would Return Money To Dangerous Nursing Homes After They Correct Problems
A new bill in the Illinois General Assembly could dramatically change the way nursing homes operate in Illinois. Under Senate Bill 321, proposed by Dan Kotowski (D- Park Ridge, IL), fines imposed against nursing homes for providing poor care and injury could be returned to the facility at the discretion of the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Currently, part of the money collected from fines against Illinois nursing homes is used to provide health monitors who are stationed in troubled nursing homes and used to pay staff members who serve on regional teams to review cases of abuse and preventable death in nursing homes throughout Illinois. Under the new law funding to these programs would be reduced substantially.
Wendy Meltzer, director of the Chicago-based Illinois Citizens for Better Care, claims SB 321 in its current state, "would be really bad public policy. The bill essentially eliminates the financial disincentive for bad behavior." Meltzer call the concept of returning fine money to nursing homes that negligently allow poor nursing home care in their facilities, "morally repugnant."
The bill is opposed by AARP and Illinois Association of Long-Term Care Ombudsmen.
Interestingly, Mr. Kotowski the bill's sponsor, received $15,000 in recent campaign contributions from the nursing home industry. If passed, Illinois would be the first state to refund nursing home fines according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Web Resource:
Opponents of nursing home bill outraged, The State Journal Register, March 7, 2009
Nursing Homes Abuse Blog Posts On Nursing Home Fines
Iowa Nursing Home Cited For Inadequate Care Of Pressure Sores
Comments (1)
Read through and enter the discussion by using the form at the endDan Schulz - March 13, 2009 8:39 AM
Oh HECK NO. Good thing I saw this. I'll be letting my state senator know about this. The sooner we can get this killed, the better off the state will be.