MA lawmakers propose new rules for closing, selling nursing homes

Massachusetts lawmakers are asking that the process companies go through to sell or close a nursing home become more public. This and other proposed new rules come after mounting concerns that elder care is suffering as a result of the the state's nursing home industry upheaval, according to the Boston Globe. Because of this upheaval, many long-term care (LTC) facilities are being sold or closed.

Under the proposed new rules, facility owners intending to sell would be required to "provide written notice to residents, their families, resident and family councils, nursing home staff, unions representing staffers, elected state and local officials, and the state Ombudsman’s office," reports the Boston Globe. After that, a public hearing would be required before the sale if at least 10 people petitioned it.

If an owner wanted to close an LTC facility, a public hearing would be mandatory and public notices, similar to the one above, would be required.

"Healthcare workers are pleased to see the Public Health Council moving forward with these public hearings that will help give families, seniors, and caregivers a stronger voice in the process," Veronica Turner, executive vice president of the union that represents nursing home workers, 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, said in a statement that was printed in the Boston Globe.

Read the full Boston Globe article here.

Megan Combs

Megan Combs was Associate Editor of I Advance Senior Care / Long Term Living from 2013-2018.