Many believe it was a mistake to allow COVID-positive patients into nursing homes before they've recovered. | stock photo
Many believe it was a mistake to allow COVID-positive patients into nursing homes before they've recovered. | stock photo
A Michigan Senate bill that prohibits transferring COVID-19 patients into long-term care facilities and nursing homes has the backing of Rep. Aaron Miller (R-Sturgis) as it heads to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's desk.
Senate Bill 956, sponsored by Sen. Peter Lucido (R-Shelby Township), prohibits patients who test positive for coronavirus and haven’t yet recovered from being admitted or cared for in a nursing home, according to MiSenateGOP.
The exception would be when the nursing home has an approved, designated area to care for coronavirus patients in its facility.
Rep. Aaron Miller
| Michigan House Republicans
SB 956 also requires that the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs evaluate and report by Saturday, Aug. 15, to the House and Senate Standing Committees on current policies in regards to COVID-19 patients and nursing homes, according to Michigan House Republicans.
The DHHS, by Tuesday, Sept. 1, must develop and submit a plan that would create "at least one dedicated regional facility within each of the state’s eight health regions for use as COVID-19 patient facilities,” according to the Michigan House Republicans website.
Miller said that SB 956 addresses Whitmer’s mandate that places COVID-19 patients alongside uninfected residents in long-term care facilities. The practice “contributed to the COVID-related deaths of nearly 2,000 nursing home residents,” Miller said, according to the Michigan House Republicans’ website.
In the meantime, on July 23, Whitmer extended an executive order that protects people in long-term care facilities, according to Michigan.gov.
Executive Order 2020-156, effective through Monday, Aug. 31, extends restrictions of individuals’ entry into congregate care, health care, residential care and juvenile justice facilities. The restrictions were implemented by Executive Order 2020-136, according to Michigan.gov.
“The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services remains empowered to specify exceptions to these restrictions,” stated Michigan.gov.
Alerts Sign-up