AARP AZ Opposition to HB 2912 “Limiting Enforcement Actions and Civil Liability During A Public Health Emergency”

Dear Arizona Representative:

AARP, on behalf of 910,000 Arizona members and all older Arizonans statewide, urges you to reject proposals, such as HB2912 that would make it more difficult to hold nursing homes, assisted living facilities and other long term care facilities accountable when residents are harmed, neglected or abused during this pandemic.

AARP strongly urges you to protect the safety of residents during this pandemic which has put residents’ health, safety, and quality of care at unprecedented risk, as reflected by the horrific death tolls. During this crisis, most inspections of nursing homes have been suspended, in-person family visits have been effectively prohibited, and in-person long-term care ombudsman visits have been restricted. Residents of nursing homes and other facilities, who are often unable to advocate for themselves, now have limited access to people who can advocate on their behalf.

As a result, there is less oversight and attention to what is happening in facilities. This lack of oversight is alarming and requires more than ever that residents and their families will still have access to the courts to seek redress. .

Nursing homes and other facilities should know they will continue to be held responsible for providing the required level of quality care. Families all across Arizona are looking for swift action to protect the health and safety of their loved ones living in nursing homes, not action that will further limit accountability in residential care facilities where people live and receive necessary care.

Please oppose HB 2912 “Limiting Enforcement Actions and Civil Liability During A Public Health Emergency”.

Sincerely,


Dana Marie Kennedy, MSWState Director AARP Arizona