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Governor Wolf's Veto of Limited, Temporary Liability Protections for Long-Term Care Providers Undermines and Threatens Care for Thousands of Pennsylvania Seniors

November 30, 2020

HARRISBURG, PA – Zach Shamberg, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Health Care Association (PHCA), issued the following statement after Governor Tom Wolf vetoed House Bill 1737, which would have granted temporary, limited liability protections for Pennsylvania's long-term care providers, schools, businesses and others amid the continued COVID-19 emergency:

"Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Pennsylvania’s long-term care providers and their frontline workers have gone to extraordinary lengths to care for our most vulnerable population. Unfortunately, shortages of personal protective equipment and testing supplies, coupled with ever-changing guidance from state and federal regulatory agencies, have created an environment ripe for opportunistic legal action directly related to this emergency.

"House Bill 1737 would have protected long-term care providers from predatory law firms looking to take advantage of this pandemic with baseless accusations and frivolous lawsuits. Instead, the Governor’s veto today has only protected and empowered one segment of Pennsylvania’s business community: trial attorneys.

“In vetoing House Bill 1737, Governor Wolf has bypassed the concerns of long-term care providers and their workers, and instead sided with those attorneys who seek to wreak havoc on the healthcare heroes charged with protecting our loved ones.

"This fight is far from over. PHCA will continue to advocate for liability protections for Pennsylvania’s long-term care providers, especially as the resurgence of COVID-19 – and the accompanying barrage of frivolous lawsuits and skyrocketing liability insurance costs – threatens the care of our most vulnerable residents.”

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