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DISCHARGE REFORMS, STAFFING ENFORCEMENT

IN LONG-TERM CARE SETTINGS


Sen. Biss - SB1624 | Rep. Welch - HB3392

Illinois leads the nation in the improper discharge of long-term care


residents in many instances, abandoning these people in hospital Beds vs Complaints
psychiatric units. Unfortunately, with nowhere else to go, the hospital Beds Complaints
becomes their home. Individual accounts show this most often occurs
114,000 1,000
with residents who experience some type of cognitive impairment.
Among the five most populous states, Illinois ranks the worst for 111,000 750
complaints of improper discharges, according to a federal analysis
of state-by-state data. Furthermore, during 2011-2015 nursing beds 108,000 500
decreased by seven percent as complaints of improper discharges 105,000 250
increased by 153 percent.
102,000 1

THE STAFFING ENFORCEMENT GAP: RESIDENTS SHORTED 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
9.1 MILLION HOURS OF LEGALLY MANDATED CARE
Despite landmark 2010 legislation raising minimum direct care
staffing levels, 360 of Illinois 991 nursing facilities fell short of
the legal staffing levels in 2015, shorting residents of a total of
9.1 million hours of care.(1) The staffing minimum was set because Hospital Abandonment Complaints
at lower staffing levels, residents face significant measurable Total complaints Percentage of total LTC population complaints
declines in quality of care and outcomes.(2) The fact that over a 1,600 80%
third of nursing facilities are failing to meet the minimum legal
requirements seriously shorting vulnerable long-term care 1,200 60%
residents on care points to the need for financial penalties to 800 40%
increase compliance. Without these
penalties, a significant percentage of 800 20%
seniors and people with disabilities
0
dependent on long-term care will continue
to face serious deficiencies that may California Illinois Texas Florida New York
cause harm or jeopardy to nursing home
residents.(3)

THE PROBLEM THE SOLUTION


Current statute is vague and too broad, resulting in Illinois Eliminate loopholes in statute allowing residents to be
regulatory agencies interpreting the law one way and the abandoned at hospitals
industry interpreting it another Require the states long-term care ombudsman be given notice
Long-term care ombudsman are not notified of an involuntary of a discharge to ensure the ombudsman has adequate time to
discharge or transfer when it occurs, hindering their ability to advocate on behalf of the resident
effectively advocate on behalf of residents Grant full due process to residents during the appeals hearing
Residents and the Department of Public Health have no process
administrative remedy to protect residents whove been Adopt appropriate monetary penalties for LTC settings found to
improperly discharged have jeopardized resident safety by improperly discharging
Monetary penalties are so low that it becomes cheaper for a a resident or violating staffing laws
long-term care center to be fined than to follow the law Equip the Department of Public Health with information to make
Those violating staffing laws are not being penalized for doing their regulatory enforcement duties easier, saving taxpayer
so, creating a perpetual neglect-of-care type culture dollars and cracking down on those not following direct care
staffing laws

CONTACT
1 https://www.illinois.gov/hfs/MedicalProviders/CostReports/Pages/2015LongTermCareCostReports.aspx Andrew Kretschmar, Alzheimers Association ICN: 847.525.1404
2 U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Abt Associates Inc . Appropriateness of Minimum Nurse
Staffing Ratios in Nursing Homes. Report to Congress: Phase II Final. Volumes IIII. Baltimore, MD: CMS; 2001. Jamie Freschi, Illinois Long-Term Care Ombudsman: 217.725.6799
3 Kim H, Kovner C, Harrington C, Greene W, Mezey M. A Panel Data Analysis of the Relationships of Nursing Ram Villivalam, SEIU HCII: 312.933.4131
Home Staffing Levels and Standards of Regulatory Deficiencies. Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences.
2009b;64B(2):26978. Dave Lowitzki, Lowitzki Consulting: 312.296.5802

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