Union Blasts McKee for Suspending Penalties and Siding With For-Profit Nursing Homes

Union Blasts McKee for Suspending Penalties and Siding With For-Profit Nursing Homes

Late on Friday afternoon, Governor Dan McKee signed an Executive Order that suspended the enforcement provision against nursing homes that did not meet the requirements for minimum staffing.

The General Assembly passed in 2021, and McKee signed the law assessing penalties for nursing homes that fail to meet certain minimum staffing.

McKee claimed in his executive order, “The estimated net costs of enforcing the minimum staffing level compliance and enforcement program pursuant to the law would be approximately $60 million, further straining nursing home resources and potentially resulting in additional closures, and forcing the relocation of residents.”

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McKee states dropping the fines was needed “to provide clarity and predictability regarding nursing home minimum staffing fines while the Administration continues to work collaboratively with all parties to find long-term solutions to prevent facility closures while supporting staff.”

But leaders in passing the legislation ripped into McKee’s actions.

 

Unions Weigh In

Jesse Martin, Executive Vice President of SEIU 1199NE and member of Raise the Bar on Resident Care Coalition, said in a statement to GoLocal, "Governor McKee signed The Nursing Home Staffing and Quality Care Act into law in 2021 after a majority of COVID-related deaths were found in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Although studies have shown that safe staffing is the primary way to ensure quality care, Rhode Island now ranks 38th in the country according to the AARP.”

Martin said that the problem in compliance is with the for-profit nursing out-of-state and that non-profit facilities comply with the staffing requirements.

“While many of our state’s non-profit homes have exceeded safe staffing requirements, the majority of for-profit nursing homes continue to rack up massive profits while crying wolf about safe staffing fines. Instead of giving nursing home owners free rein, it is critical that all stakeholders work together to hold nursing homes accountable to providing safe, dignified care,” said Martin.

Raise the Bar on Resident Care Coalition includes “a diverse group of organizations working on behalf of seniors, individuals with disabilities, nursing home caregivers, women and low-income families.”

At the time of the legislation's passing in May of 2021, supporters celebrated the action.

“The Nursing Home Staffing and Quality Care Act will raise the bar on resident care for thousands of Rhode Island seniors and people with disabilities while providing a pathway out of poverty for the dedicated frontline workers who care for them,” said David Veliz, Director of the Rhode Island Interfaith Coalition to End Poverty, “We commend the leadership of Senate Whip Maryellen Goodwin and Representative Scott Slater in their steadfast commitment to passing this legislation.” 

Since the passage of the law, the Department of Health has not issued any fines to nursing homes under this law.