Agency setting coronavirus standards for nursing homes is moving too slow, lawmaker says
The federal office that sets standards for most nursing homes is moving much too slowly to address rising coronavirus deaths in facilities that treat the elderly, a California congressman argues in a new letter to the Health and Human Services Agency.
The oversight agency, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, on April 30 announced it was setting up a commission to “inform efforts to safeguard the health and quality of life of vulnerable Americans as CMS continues to battle COVID-19 as well as preparing for future threats to resident safety and public health.”
There is no set date for the commission to meet, but the agency said in a press release the commission is “expected to meet in late May.”
Rep. Josh Harder, D-Turlock, said in a letter to agency Administrator Seema Verma that’s “far too slow.”
“People in nursing homes in the Valley are sick and dying right now — we can’t wait a month for the feds to put together some show-panel. We need an actual plan and the resources to keep our loved ones safe right now.” Harder said in a statement. “This is another example of a federal agency slow-walking the response to this crisis — and now innocent older Americans are suffering.”
The agency did not respond to a request for comment.
Nursing homes have to meet standards set by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in order to receive Medicare and Medicaid funding. So far, the agency has issued guidance telling nursing homes to adhere to usual disinfection guidance, limiting non-essential staff and requiring the use of personal protective equipment such as face masks.
On April 19, the agency required nursing homes to report positive cases of COVID-19 to all residents and their families, as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
More than 16,000 of the nearly 70,000 COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. have been residents or employees of nursing facilities, according to a USA Today compiling of state agencies.
In California, at least 644 of more than 2,100 coronavirus deaths have been related to nursing homes, according to the California Department of Public Health.
At a nursing home in Harder’s district, Turlock Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, at least 94 people tested positive for the novel coronavirus and five people have died of the virus.
“The (President Donald) Trump Administration’s own estimates indicate the number of daily deaths will double between today and the proposed date for convening your commission. If that estimate is accurate, older Americans — especially those in nursing homes — will continue to become sick and die at shocking, disproportionate rates,” Harder wrote to Verma. “It’s clear that drastic and immediate action must be taken to ensure the safety of seniors in long-term care facilities. Forming a commission is a fine idea, but it cannot wait to convene or make meaningful recommendations until the end of the month.”
This story was originally published May 5, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
.jpg)