House panel approves bill to reduce patient dumping, understaffing

An Illinois House committee on Wednesday approved a bill to improve staffing levels at nursing homes and make it harder for long-term care centers to "dump" troublesome patients at hospitals.

"Residents and family members are scared, confused and quite frankly baffled by the current system that clearly provides an advantage to the facilities," Illinois long-term care ombudsman Jamie Freschi told the House Human Services Committee.

She said the growing number of complaints about improper discharges from nursing homes and assisted-living centers leaves many residents and their families frustrated after residents have been unfairly transferred to private homes, hospital psychiatric units and homeless shelters, then refused readmission.

House Bill 3392 would institute new monetary penalties for improper discharges and understaffing. The legislation also would give long-term-care ombudsmen around the state more notification when involuntary discharges take place and more ability to advocate on behalf of residents.

Read more: http://www.sj-r.com/news/20170322/house-panel-approves-bill-to-reduce-patient-dumping-understaffing