State Senator Toni Nathaniel Harp
January 16, 2008
Senate Democrats Detail Proposed Reforms For Long Term Care, Nursing Homes in Connecticut
Senator Harp speaking at the press conference to present the Senate Democrats’ legislative proposals designed to improve the quality of patient care in the state’s nursing homes. (January 16, 2008)
State Senate President Pro Tempore Donald E. Williams, Jr. (D-Brooklyn) and State Senate Majority Leader Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven) were joined today by key members of the Senate Democratic Caucus today to outline a series of legislative proposals designed to improve the quality of patient care in the state's nursing homes and shore up the economic viability of businesses that provide long term care in the state.
The lawmakers said the need for reform is overdue. They cited numerous press accounts published in recent months detailing lax patient care and fiscal mismanagement. They also said the time to make these reforms is now, because the 'baby boom' population bubble is beginning to turn 60 and because projected life expectancy continues to rise. Demand for long term and nursing home care is projected to increase by almost 30 percent by 2030, they said.
"What happened with Haven Health Care should be a wake-up call," said Senator Williams. "In many cases our seniors aren't getting the high quality care they deserve and our tax dollars are being siphoned to out of state companies. Anyone who has a grandparent, parent, or loved one in a nursing home should be gravely concerned about what's happening in Connecticut right now."
"Our proposals will not only protect nursing home residents, they will also end the shell-game that's being played Connecticut tax dollars," said Senator Looney. "Right now there is a lack of financial oversight and transparency and that must change."
The Senate Democrats' proposal includes reforms in two critical areas where nursing homes must be held accountable: patient care and fiscal responsibility. The lawmakers said in this fashion the state's population of elderly residents will receive high-quality care while their families--and state taxpayers--will be assured their money is spent efficiently and effectively.
"Connecticut's spending for nursing home care is said to be the 4th highest per capita in the nation and will only grow as a percentage of our state budget, just the way all healthcare costs are rising," Senator Toni N. Harp, co-chair of the Appropriations Committee, said. "Given ever-increasing pressures to make the most of every tax dollar spent, we have to insist upon greater transparency from long term care providers to gauge the efficiency of their operations."
"There's no way around the issue of staff-to-patient ratios if we're going to provide the level of quality care and a sufficient measure of dignity that our senior citizens deserve, and increased minimum staffing levels in Connecticut is shamefully overdue," Senator Edith G. Prague (D-Columbia) said. "Several years ago our state ranked 34th out of 50 in terms of hours of care per patient and nothing has been done since then to improve our performance."
In terms of patient care, statutory mandatory minimum staffing levels will be increased for the first time in more than 25 years. The proposal also includes revised inspection and licensing procedures and better documentation so state regulators in both the Department of Public Health (DPH) and the Department of Social Services (DSS) can better monitor the performance of individual facilities.
Improved nursing home accountability is an essential element of improved care, the lawmakers said. Mismanaged funds and poor business practices can disrupt services and leave elderly patients caught in the middle. For instance, the company responsible for the second most nursing home beds in Connecticut recently filed for bankruptcy protection while another major provider is currently under additional financial scrutiny by DSS.
"Nursing homes are and will continue to be a key piece of providing care to our families, friends and neighbors, so we need to make certain that the legal framework, oversight and funding are in place to ensure cost-effective quality of care," said state Sen. Jonathan A. Harris (D-West Hartford), co-chairman of the Human Services Committee.
"It is critically important that we have a true board providing oversight on nursing homes across our state," said Senator Paul Doyle (D-Wethersfield), who chairs the Select Committee on Aging. "We have to make sure that our tax dollars are being used for what they were intended for. Even more important, we need to make absolutely sure that seniors and their families who have to trust these facilities and their staff with their lives are getting the highest quality care. The current committee is not working. This is a need that has gone unmet for far too long."
Download and view an outline of the Senate Democrats’ proposal on nursing home care and accountability. (72k PDF file)
|
Senator Harp’s |
Listing of Senator Harp’s recent press releases and a Press Kit with official head shots and bio. |
Press Aide Laurence Grotheer |
