Tim Carpenter, Kansas Reflector
photo by: Screen capture by Kansas Reflector
Rachel Monger, representing LeadingAge Kansas, said it was essential, for the 2021 Legislature to grant adult care facilities immunity from COVID-19 lawsuits retroactive to March 2020 to create equity with hospitals and clinics provided that protection in terms of the pandemic.
TOPEKA Long-term care lobbyist Rachel Monger is convinced the Kansas law passed less than a year ago to limit civil liability of nursing homes during the pandemic fell far short.
Monger, speaking on behalf of LeadingAge Kansas’ 20,000 employees serving more than 25,000 older Kansans, said the affirmative-defense shield put in place during a special legislative session left facilities open to legal attacks. She said the compromise reached by Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly and the Republican-led Legislature amounted to “demoralizing punishment” for nursing homes caring for seniors during the public health crisis. It’s essenti
Associated Press
Kansas Statehouse in Topeka
TOPEKA Advocates for older Kansans in assisted living facilities are pushing for legislation that would allow them to appeal to the state if a facility evicts them.
The House Children and Seniors Committee plans to have a hearing Thursday on the measure, The Topeka Capital-Journal reports. It would allow older Kansans who’ve been involuntarily discharged from an adult residential care facility to appeal to the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services.
Rachel Imthurn of Maple Hill has been pushing for such a law since her husband was evicted from an assisted living facility in 2011 and died nine days later. State Long Term Care Ombudsman Barbara Hickert said her office investigated 79 eviction cases and received more than 200 calls from consumers.
Advocates seek law for appeals of adult care home evictions Follow Us
Question of the Day By - Associated Press - Monday, January 25, 2021
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - Advocates for older Kansans in assisted living facilities are pushing for legislation that would allow them to appeal to the state if a facility evicts them.
The House Children and Seniors Committee plans to have a hearing Thursday on the measure, The Topeka Capital-Journal reports. It would allow older Kansans who’ve been involuntarily discharged from an adult residential care facility to appeal to the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services.
Rachel Imthurn of Maple Hill has been pushing for such a law since her husband was evicted from an assisted living facility in 2011 and died nine days later. State Long Term Care Ombudsman Barbara Hickert said her office investigated 79 eviction cases and received more than 200 ca
An Alzheimer s patient, he died nine days later from transfer trauma. We had just paid our fees for that month, we had to find a place and then pay our fees all over again for that month . we had to outfit another room, said Imthurn, a Maple Hill resident. So after we had gone through all [that], he died.
Nearly a decade later, Imthurn is still pushing for change. She hopes Kansas House Bill 2004, named Charlie s Bill, will pass this legislative session and put into statute the right for assisted living facility residents to appeal an involuntary discharge.
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Ron Highland, R-Wamego, had a previous attempt last year but died in a COVID-19-shortened session.