PRINTER'S NO. 4560
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
1063
Session of
2020
INTRODUCED BY O'MARA, HILL-EVANS, ISAACSON, YOUNGBLOOD,
SCHLOSSBERG, KENYATTA, A. DAVIS, CALTAGIRONE, KORTZ, KINSEY,
LONGIETTI, HOWARD, FREEMAN, DALEY, McCLINTON, GILLEN, ULLMAN,
FRANKEL, RABB, PASHINSKI, JOHNSON-HARRELL, ROZZI, SCHROEDER,
MERSKI, SHUSTERMAN, DRISCOLL, ROEBUCK AND OTTEN,
OCTOBER 19, 2020
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON AGING AND OLDER ADULT SERVICES,
OCTOBER 19, 2020
A RESOLUTION
Directing the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a
comprehensive study on Pennsylvania's long-term care
facilities and issue a report of its findings and
recommendations to the General Assembly.
WHEREAS, More than 80,000 Pennsylvanians live in more than
700 long-term care facilities throughout this Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, Long-term care facilities provide 24-hour skilled
nursing care to residents who require assistance or supervision
to complete daily activities and cannot live in their homes; and
WHEREAS, While the Department of Health licenses and conducts
annual surveys of these facilities and handles complaints from
residents and families, there exists a disparity in the level of
care provided in facilities across this Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, The Nursing Home Quality Improvement Task Force
within the Department of Health was established in 2015 to offer
recommendations on enhancing care and improving the safety of
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long-term care facilities and the quality of life of their
residents; and
WHEREAS, Despite the findings of the Nursing Home Quality
Improvement Task Force, reports of inadequate and substandard
care persist; and
WHEREAS, An investigation published in November 2018 found
that care did not improve following a lawsuit against a chain of
long-term care facilities in this Commonwealth and the promise
of increased oversight from regulators; and
WHEREAS, As Pennsylvania's population ages, there is a need
for a better process to address deficiencies in long-term care
and a greater focus on person-centered care; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives direct the Joint
State Government Commission to conduct a comprehensive study on
Pennsylvania's long-term care facilities and issue a report of
its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly; and be
it further
RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission offer
legislative and regulatory recommendations to improve the care
provided to residents in long-term care facilities; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission study
how the following impact the care provided to, and quality of
life for, residents in long-term care facilities:
(1) nurse staffing competency and mix, staffing
requirements and ratios;
(2) person-centered care and culture change;
(3) the Department of Health survey process, including
the training, continuing education and retention of
surveyors;
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(4) recruitment and retention of long-term care leaders,
including administrators and directors;
(5) Medicaid reimbursement rates and the amount of money
received from the Federal and State governments;
(6) value-based reimbursement which rewards facilities
that improve quality control, person-centered care and other
processes as measured by the Department of Health; and
(7) the role of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program in
Pennsylvania;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission accept
and review oral or written comments, documents and other
information from persons seeking to provide input regarding the
study on long-term care facilities; and be it further
RESOLVED, That for the purposes of the study, the Joint State
Government Commission solicit input from representatives of all
aspects of care in long-term care facilities, including, but not
limited to, the following:
(1) the Department of Aging;
(2) the Department of Health;
(3) the Department of Human Services;
(4) registered nurses, certified nursing assistants,
licensed practical nurses and other long-term care staff; and
(5) the Pennsylvania Health Care Association and any
other private advocacy organizations;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission issue a
report of its findings, along with any statutory or regulatory
recommendations, to the General Assembly within one year of the
adoption of this resolution.
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