Long-term care providers and their advocates continue to show full support this week for the Maryland bill, which places the responsibility for investigating nursing homes in local government hands. Key testimony was presented to the Maryland Senate Finance Committee last week.
Karrington Anderson, semi-policy director for the Maryland County Association, urged the committee to allow local agencies to visit nursing home sites and conduct a full investigation.
“The provisions of this bill reflect strong state local partnerships: there are many nursing homes, but there are only a few in other counties, but all require accountability and effective enforcement. ” Anderson said in a memo from the county association. “Ensuring local governments can assist with testing ensures that facilities are not checked due to limited state resources.”
State stakeholders, including Maryland officials, said Friday they are monitoring McKnight's legislative potential and what it could mean in the long run. .
While it is essential for nursing homes to comply with strict health and safety regulations, Anderson said in his testimony that the intense challenges of staffing and attrition have made it difficult to enforce.
Operators like Lifespan Network, Maryland's largest provider of senior care, said the proposal is directly in line with the strong enforcement measures they have consistently advocated. Kevin Heffner, president and CEO of LifeSpan, said he is working with lawmakers to establish clarity.
“We are working with the bill sponsors to ensure that the delegation of authority in the investigation process does not lead to overlapping investigations by the county and state,” he told McKnight's Long-Term Care News on Thursday.
Hefner said it is not certain whether other states are trying to adopt similar laws, but the proposed bill could help reverse recent trends in national surveyors.
More than half of US states were far behind annual surveys, primarily due to the pandemic and staffing shortages. Also, as of May 2024, the annual average recertification survey was 578 days late.
The bill, sponsored by Maryland Sen. Benjamin F. Kramer (D), can generate more local talent.
But at the same time, CMS pushed forward with the implementation of new surveyor guidance until March 24th, giving Maryland and other states time to fine-tune the process and perhaps pass the support law.
