Alabama Legislature refuses assisted living bill
Alabama Legislature refuses assisted living bill
The Alabama House of Representatives has refused to consider one of three bills that would have created a new system of care for thousands of elderly residents of the state suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. The proposal would have placed assisted living facilities under the state’s certificate-of-need rules and would have given the state power to restrict construction of new facilities unless the industry could prove there was a demand, reports the Associated Press. It also would have strengthened inspections of the state’s 8,000 licensed assisted living facilities, while helping the state crack down on possibly hundreds of unlicensed facilities. State Health Officer Don Williamson says he has "real concerns about the quality of care patients may get."
Following the vote, Rep. Ron Johnson (R-Sylacauga) agreed to delay consideration of the other bills in the package he is sponsoring, the AP reports. The bills could still be considered in the remaining 12 meeting days of the legislature’s annual session. Health officials’ argument is that they do not have the money or enforcement power needed to adequately police the assisted living industry.
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