On Tuesday, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn announced the creation of a $110 million federal fund to prevent nursing home abuse. The money will come from a tax on nursing homes and be used to help homes meet new state requirements that were passed last year in response to a string of nursing home abuse incidents.
Governor Quinn formed a task force to investigate nursing home abuse in 2009 after a string of high-profile incidents and investigations by local newspapers. In response, last year the state legislature passed a bill requiring increased staffing and safety provisions, as well as revisions to the screening process for nursing homes to protect residents from other residents with a history of violence. The $110 million fund will be created by a tax on nursing homes and federal Medicaid matching funds. The money will help nursing homes hire additional staff and bring their safety regulations in line with the new state standards.
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