Compromise in works
for care home bill

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By Helen Altonn
haltonn@starbulletin.com

The House Health Committee is working on a compromise version of a bill calling for unannounced annual inspections of adult residential care homes.

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After lengthy testimony yesterday, committee Chairman Dennis Arakaki (D, Kamehameha Heights-Kalihi Valley) said he was deferring the bill until tomorrow to look at "compromise language" for Senate Bill 1061 SD1 to accomplish the objective -- quality health care of the 3,000 care home residents.

Care home operators oppose unannounced annual inspections while health professionals, medical organizations, the AARP and other groups concerned about seniors point to abuses and argue that facilities doing a good job have nothing to worry about.

"It would be something like a 'Department of Health Seal of Approval' which should help promote their business," said Larry Geller, with the Hawaii Coalition for Health.

Greg Marchildon, AARP Hawaii executive director, said, "Unannounced annual inspections keep care operators on their toes ... Abuse and neglect is not simply about bed sores."

The Hawaii Coalition of Care Home Administrators said unannounced investigations of complaints and unannounced visits to detect abuse already are being done.

They object to unannounced annual visits because they often take residents on appointments and might not be home, they said.

Also, they have doctors, nurses, physical therapists, dietitians, case managers and social workers visiting the homes regularly, they said.

"So, to have a surveyor/inspector drop in for two to seven hours unannounced and totally disrupt our day is commercially unreasonable."

Dianne Okumura, acting chief of the Health Department's Office of Health Care Assurance, said the department supports unannounced annual inspections but wants flexibility in determining them.

New administrative rules governing adult residential care homes, in the draft stage for two years, say the department "may" conduct unannounced inspections.

Okumura said the rules have been approved by the governor and will be aired at public hearings at 1 p.m. April 15 at the following video conference centers:

On Oahu, Kalanimoku Building, Room B10, 1151 Punchbowl St., Kakukihewa Building, Room 167, Kamokila Blvd., Kapolei. Hilo State Office Building, 75 Aupuni St., basement, Big Island; Wailuku Judiciary Building, 2145 Main St., First Floor, Maui; Lihue State Office Building, 3080 Eiwa St., Basement, Kauai.