Office of the Auditor General
Once again, the coronavirus pandemic has thrown a spotlight on Ontario’s long-term care homes. Two reports criticize the lack of action by the government, as well as existing problems in the homes, which left hundreds of residents and staff easy targets for the pandemic and they paid the ultimate price.
A scathing report from the government watchdog outlined neglect and said the nursing homes were badly prepared for COVID-19. A second report from a provincial COVID-19 commission, that was given to the government on Friday night, said there also was no plan to protect long-term care residents from the pandemic.
Legislation’s progress so far
It was during a mid-February press briefing that Gov. Andrew Cuomo first publicly voiced support of New York state deciding how much nursing homes can profit.
“If you’re a for-profit nursing home, I believe it should be mandated how much you put back into the facility and how much profit you can make,” he said.
Cuomo later included the proposed profit cap, also called a medical loss ratio, as an amendment to his 2021 budget proposal. It would mandate nursing homes put at least 70% of their revenue toward caring for residents.
Both the state Senate and Assembly have since passed their own separate versions of the profit cap over the last five weeks. The two sides will need to come to an agreement if the legislation will become law, but both their bills would also mandate at least 70% of revenue go toward care.
WBFO s Tom Dinki reports about COVID-19 s impact on nursing homes.
About a third of all U.S. COVID-19 deaths have been linked to nursing homes. In Erie County, nursing home residents make up more than half of all COVID deaths.
The New York State Attorney General, in a report released in January, found many nursing homes across the state failed to provide adequate personal protective equipment and follow infection protocols, especially during the early months of the pandemic.
Plus, visitor restrictions have left families unable to see loved ones in nursing homes for most, if not all, of the last year.
Credit US Veteran s Admin/File photo
The site, which will begin operations on Wednesday, March 10, will at first offer vaccines to those who have already registered through the county’s website; walk-ins will not be accepted.
It is expected to offer 1,000 vaccines a day inside the hockey arena s Lexus Club on the 100 level off the main lobby pavilion. Generally used for catered events, the space seats 400. This site is well-placed to serve the City of Buffalo and all of Erie County, and as more vaccines become available we will be able to increase operations here,” said Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz, in a prepared statement that thanked Buffalo Sabres management for making the site available.