State Rep. Bronna Kahle, of Adrian, has introduced a plan to improve the quality of care for people living in nursing homes by establishing clear and consistent standards for Michigan health care surveyors.

The legislation would improve the state’s regulatory process to ensure Michigan nursing home care providers are evaluated and regulated in a fair, accurate, and timely manner, and with the same equality as those in other states.

Kahle said the current regulatory environment is impeding health providers from continuing to provide quality care and support their communities.

“Through actions, comments, failure to follow established survey processes and protocols, and inconsistent regulation enforcement, Michigan surveyors are creating public policy from the ground upwards, which is putting providers into unsustainable economic situations,” said Kahle, former director of the Adrian Senior Center. “Allowing these practices to continue will result in facility closures, with far reaching implications for the residents and communities they serve.”

Michigan is an outlier in both the frequency, scope and severity of citations, despite the state’s level of quality in its nursing homes being at or above the care provided in other states.

Nursing facilities have struggled, adapted and ultimately become more agile and innovative through the trials and tribulations of the pandemic. Rather than recognizing the struggles and successes of individual providers, or offering support and guidance through the pandemic, the regulatory process in Michigan has added more hurdles by way of unfair regulation practices.

“We must ensure those who provide care for our most vulnerable individuals are evaluated and regulated in a fair, accurate and timely manner,” Kahle said. “The dedicated individuals working in our skilled nursing facilities across Michigan need to be able to provide the absolute best care and support to our seniors, patients and their families.”

Kahle’s plan, House Bill 5609, was referred to the House Health Policy Committee for consideration.