Senate passes nursing home liability bill

NEWS 9

How safe are Oklahomans living in nursing homes? Some local advocates and lawmakers believe not every facility is taking responsibility for its patients.

The Oklahoma Center for Consumer and Patient Safety held a press conference today to let us know many state nursing homes are operating without liability insurance.

State bill 1549 would require nursing homes to either maintain assets or carry liability insurance of $250 thousand. The bill has cleared the Senate and now goes to the House.

Supporters say the bill will improve health care at nursing homes.

"We also suspect there is a direct correlation between nursing homes operating in a financially irresponsible manner and the quality of care delivered to residents," Hugh Robert of the Oklahoma Center for Consumer and Patient Safety said.

Opponents say mandating liability insurance would increase the number of lawsuits and take dollars away from healthcare.