THCA ‘DISAPPOINTED’ WITH KOLKHORST’S COVID-19 HEARING

  

The Texas Health Care Association (THCA) says it is “disappointed” in testimony presented at a COVID-19 hearing led by State Senator Lois Kolkhorst.

On Tuesday, the Texas Senate Committee on Health and Human Services heard invited testimony on long-term care residents from the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP).

In a statement, THCA President and CEO Kevin Warren said while it was thankful that Kolkhorst held a hearing addressing the issue, the organization came away “disappointed both in what was said and not said” relating to long-term care and the staff who work in the facilities.

Warren said those invited to testify did acknowledge the hard work of regulators and COVID-19’s impact on families and residents, but did not “pay the same respect to the frontline heroes.”  He added that testimony appeared to “solely place blame” for COVID-19 in the long-term profession on poor infection control practices and the actions of facility staff, arguing that a top factor for an outbreak in a long-term care facility is the number of cases in the surrounding community.

Warren also criticized the discussion held on the impact of staffing shortages in long-term care facilities.  He said, instead of addressing and offering solutions on the “severe ongoing supply shortage” of registered nurses and certified nursing assistants, the recommendations offered of minimum staffing levels implied low staffing levels are a matter of choice.

Warren said Texas has an opportunity during the upcoming legislative session to look at longstanding issues facing long-term care and “examine the role all involved play in improving long-term care moving forward.”  He said the long-term care profession “welcomes all discussions on how to better support residents and staff,” but comments made by those testifying Tuesday “missed that mark.”

When asked by KWHI for a response to the THCA's statement, Kolkhorst's Senate office said it had "no comment."