HARRISBURG, PA (May 8, 2020) – Zach Shamberg, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Health Care Association (PHCA), was invited today to speak before the Pennsylvania House of Representative’s Aging & Older Adult Services Committee to provide an update on the state of long-term care and the challenges facing providers, workers and residents in a public hearing on COVID-19 in long-term care facilities.
During the public hearing, Shamberg reiterated many of the critical needs outlined in PHCA’s Long-Term Care Plan for Pennsylvania, focusing on the need for emergency funding, priority testing, priority personal protective equipment, the appointment of a long-term care ambassador, medical liability protections and a centralized reporting database.
“The time for education is over,” said Shamberg. “We need action. Long-term care providers continue to work tirelessly on the front lines to protect Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable residents at the epicenter of this response effort, but they cannot do it alone.”
Nearly 500 long-term care facilities statewide have reported at least one case of COVID-19 and nearly 70% of all COVID-related deaths in Pennsylvania have occurred in long-term care. Yet, long-term care facilities have not been prioritized for testing or personal protective equipment, nor have they been granted any medical liability protections to ensure they can continue to provide high-quality care.
You can view the entirety of Shamberg’s statement before the Aging & Older Adult Services Committee here.
