COVID-19 patients sent to struggling nursing homes during surge
7/16/20 WFXT FOX25
COVID-19 patients sent to struggling nursing homes during surge
- Kerry Kavanaugh, Jason Solowski, and Patricia Alulema
https://www.boston25news.com/news/25-investigates/25-investigates-covid-19-patients-sent-struggling-nursing-homes-during-surge/OOYE5OAZO5AB7OEIJEAE3P3NUM/
At the end of March, state health officials needed a plan to preserve capacity levels at hospitals. That’s when they turned to nursing homes. “They were part of the backup plan,” said Arlene Germain, Policy Director with the Massachusetts Advocates for Nursing Home Reform. “But I don’t know why they were part of the backup plan. It’s just common sense that you don’t commingle COVID patients with such vulnerable nursing homes residents.”
…For months, Germain’s group has been questioning the state’s plan to put coronavirus positive patients in facilities with “most vulnerable to this deadly disease.”
…25 Investigates has learned pretty much any nursing home was eligible and they received financial incentives.
Facilities only needed to fill out an attestation form, stating they have a COVID-19 isolation space - either a floor, wing or room - and that they had the capacity to accept new residents....