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Updated: 3:23 PM Mar 9, 2010
Nursing Home Reform
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) -- State lawmakers and advocates for the elderly are proposing legislation aimed at reforming the way nursing homes operate in Illinois.
Meanwhile, a nursing home trade group criticizes the plan, saying it goes "way beyond" issues of safety and could hurt patient care.
Posted: 3:19 PM Mar 9, 2010 |
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A proposal announced Tuesday targets a pattern of violence in Illinois nursing homes by raising staffing requirements and increasing fines for problem facilities.
Sens. Heather Steans and Jacqueline Collins are the Chicago Democrats who are sponsoring the legislation. It's backed by groups such as AARP, the Supportive Housing Providers Association and Illinois Citizens for Better Care.
They're calling for a database of nursing home assaults that would be kept by the Illinois Department of Public Health. And they want a new tax on nursing homes to increase funding for a state program that sends trained advocates into nursing homes to help residents.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) -- The state's largest nursing home trade group is criticizing a legislative proposal announced Tuesday, saying it goes "way beyond" issues of safety and could hurt patient care.
Terry Sullivan of the Health Care Council of Illinois says raising nursing home taxes would take money away from what's available to care for patients. He says increased staffing for every nursing home isn't reasonable.
His comments come as two Chicago lawmakers joined union leaders and advocates for the elderly in announcing legislation aimed at reforming nursing homes.
Sens. Heather Steans and Jacqueline Collins are the Chicago Democrats who are sponsoring the legislation. Collins said at a press conference Tuesday in Springfield that she and the others are willing to take on the nursing home industry.
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