HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 53
(By Delegates Hatfield, Compton, Fleischauer, Houston, Louisos,
Marshall, Perdue, Rowe, J. Smith and Yeager)
Requesting the joint committee on government and finance to study
the staffing needs of nursing homes throughout West Virginia
and determine staffing levels that will ensure that residents
of the nursing homes are provided sufficient, quality and
appropriate nursing services.
Whereas, Although nursing homes rely on government funding for
more than two-thirds of their operating budgets, there are
insufficient requirements in place to ensure that these funds are
used to provide quality nursing care to residents; and
Whereas, Nationally, up to $12 billion per year is wasted
treating preventable bedsores caused by lack of nutritional
hydration, mobility and cleanliness; more than $3 billion is spent
per year on incontinent care because residents are not toileted
frequently enough; and it is estimated that more than $900 million
could be saved each year by eliminating inadequate staffing
problems that lead to excess hospitalization for nursing home residents; and
Whereas, There are over 11,000 elderly and disabled persons
living in West Virginia's 142 nursing homes; and
Whereas, There are approximately 1,700 other identified long-
term care facilities with close to 4,500 beds in West Virginia, and
it is estimated that there are probably a few hundred additional
homes required by law to be licensed that have not been identified
and that are housing an unknown number of potentially at-risk
individuals; and
Whereas, Insufficient staffing levels lead to a significant
number of nursing home workers being injured each year as they try
to lift residents in need on their own instead of waiting for
assistance; and
Whereas, These injuries and other short staffing problems are
driving many committed and competent care givers out of their
profession; and
Whereas, The development of safe staffing standards will ensure
that nursing homes with appropriate staff levels are not placed at
a competitive disadvantage with homes that cut corners on staffing
and will further ensure that the cost of compliance with
appropriate staffing standards will be felt most by "bad actors"
who are not currently providing quality care; therefore be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the joint committee on government and finance is hereby directed to review, examine and study the staffing needs of nursing
homes throughout West Virginia in an attempt to determine
appropriate levels of nursing staff to provide sufficient, quality
and appropriate services for residents of the nursing homes, and to
make recommendations to the Legislature regarding the same; and, be
it
Further Resolved, That the joint committee on government and
finance seriously consider the staffing standards applicable to
nursing homes; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the joint committee on government and
finance report to the regular session of the Legislature, 2000, on
its findings, conclusions and recommendations, together with drafts
of any legislation necessary to effectuate its recommendations;
and, be it
Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct this
study, to prepare a report and to draft necessary legislation be
paid from legislative appropriations to the joint committee on
government and finance; and be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates
forward a copy of this resolution and a copy of the aforementioned
amendment to the joint committee on government and finance.