Oklahoma Nursing Homes In Desperate Need Of Relief During Coronavirus Pandemic

Oklahoma nursing homes are pleading for financial relief during the COVID-19 pandemic.

For months, they've been paying for staff overtime, additional staff and PPE to help protect the 17,000 Oklahomans in skilled nursing facilities.

The head the state's largest trade association for skilled nursing said coronavirus is costing facilities an extra $50 a day per residents for protection.

That's close to $1 million per day statewide.

“In the skilled sector, the demand of the meeting COVID didn’t just begin the night of the Jazz-Thunder game. Providers have been taking a defensive posture for weeks, even months before that,” said Steven Buck, the president of the Care Providers Oklahoma.

Buck said he's given his numbers to Gov. Kevin Stitt, who has more than $1.2 billion in federal COVID-19 relief at his discretion.

Buck has been talking with the governor's office, but there's been no resolution.

On Monday, Stitt said the state has been providing PPE to nursing homes.

The governor also said he may look to a federal grant to pay nursing homes for other expenses like overtime pay and additional workers.