Investigate, investigate, investigate.
Regulate, regulate, regulate.
Why not assist? Why not help? Why not try to understand?
Liz, Ron and Kirsten, of U.S. Senate fame, have asked the GAO to investigate the assisted living industry and to see if federal oversight is needed. Really? Are we going down this road again? How did that work out for the nursing home industry?
As we know, the assisted living sector is predominantly private pay, unlike nursing homes, but the senators are using information from state Medicaid agencies to back up their claims. I suppose I could see them investigating any assisted living community that is receiving Medicaid funds to make sure the money is wisely spent, but what would that accomplish?
Medicaid will be a growing part of the assisted living sector simply because of the growing number of elderly people with insufficient funds to pay the increasingly higher private pay rates. But increased regulations? That means higher prices and locking out more seniors in need. We just don’t see the end game for these senators.
Look, the sector is finally coming out of the worst period in its history, and what it maybe needs is a little more assistance. Why not fund training, help in recruiting more staff, compassion for the job they are doing? But oh no, it is unseemly to make money on the back of the elderly. Really? Then where will the capital come from to finance the new supply that will be necessary for the boomer generation? Give me a break.
And if you couldn’t figure out the three senators I was referring to above, they are Warren, Wyden and Gillibrand, respectively. I am surprised Bernie did not join in.
