HARRISBURG - The state health secretary announced a task force Wednesday to look at improving oversight of nursing homes in the wake of a lawsuit accusing a nursing home chain in Pennsylvania of inadequate care for residents.
The task force has a six-month timetable to issue a public report recommending changes to state regulations, policy and laws governing nursing homes, said Health Secretary Karen Murphy at a Wednesday press conference. The task force includes state officials, national academic experts on long-term care and lawmakers.
State Aging Secretary Teresa Osborne and Rep. Matt Baker, R-Wellsboro, chairman of the House Health Committee, are members.
Murphy, who is a registered nurse, said several initiatives are underway regarding nursing home care statewide since a civil lawsuit was filed last month against Golden Living National Senior Care LLC. The lawsuit by the state attorney general's office alleges inadequate care of residents at 14 homes operated by Golden Senior Living, including those in Harrisburg, Camp Hill, Altoona, Lansdale, Clarion, Gettysburg, Mount Lebanon, Monroeville, Phoenixville, Philadelphia, Wilkes-Barre, Tunkhannock, Erie and Pottsville.
Golden Senior Living officials said the allegations are baseless and without merit.
Murphy said she met with state Auditor General Eugene DePasquale concerning a review by his agency of the department's procedures for handling complaints about nursing homes.
Many of the current state regulations were adopted following a 1999 audit critical of nursing home care by then state Auditor General Bob Casey, Murphy said.
The health department annually inspects 704 nursing homes in Pennsylvania and more frequently if complaints are filed.