The Louisiana bill moving through Congress is what critics call the “BobDean Protection Act.” Senate Bill 134 redefines “healthcare” and redefines “healthcare” to cover administrative decisions made by nursing homes. Bob Dean – The owner of the nursing home, which packed hundreds of elderly and disabled residents into the warehouse where several people died, was protected by prosecutors. Not just an accident… something, even worse,” Presley said. “There's nothing to change that in SB 134.” Still, opponents like Coman argue that the bill creates more risks for vulnerable residents. “This encourages management companies to provide even less funding and nursing staff,” said Andrew Muhl, director of advocacy for AARP Louisiana. The measure is worried that it will blow away everyday negligence under the rug. Reach the Senate floor for a vote.
New Orleans –
The Louisiana bill moving through Congress has shaken up the controversy, and critics call it the “Bob Dean Protection Act.”
The proposal, Senate Bill 134, would redefine “healthcare” and cover nursing home management decisions.
Attorney Matt Coman, a partner at Garcia & Artigliere, says if the bill was law during Bob Dean's Hurricane IDA, the owners of nursing homes that employed hundreds of elderly and disabled residents were packed into the warehouse where several people died.
“We will be the only state in the country that provides that healthcare situation and its protection to management companies,” Coman said.
State Rep. Thomas Presley, a Shreveport Republican who wrote the bill, opposed the criticism.
“From everything I read about Mr. Dean, this wasn't just an accident… something, much worse,” Presley said. “There's nothing in the SB 134 that will change that.”
Still, opponents like Coman argue that the bill creates more risks for vulnerable residents.
“We are already ranked last for the safety and quality of nursing home residents,” says Coman. “This will provide even less funding to the management company and have fewer nursing staff.”
Andrew Muhl, director of advocacy at Aarp Louisiana, worries that the measure will allow daily negligence to be swept under the rug.
“Whether they will collapse, whether they will remain in the wheelchair and whether there is a problem with it, whether there is a pain of pressure that leads to sepsis and subsequent death,” Muhl said, listing the common risks facing residents.
Senate Bill 134 is expected to reach the Senate floor for votes.
