Lawmaker Wants To Increase Scrutiny Of Elder-Care Homes

A Lebanon County lawmaker wants to increase scrutiny of some of the state's smallest elder-care homes.

This comes after five homes in the Palmyra area were shut down last month following allegations of abuse and neglect.

Four of those homes were too small to be regulated by the state.

State Rep. Mauree Gingrich said she'll introduce a bill this week that will toughen regulations for any home, regardless of size, that receives Medicare dollars.

"It was right in neighborhoods that we all know. So, I think the attention that we need to give this is that it can happen anywhere, anytime," Gingrich said.

The bill will encourage more personal oversight at the county level.

It will require criminal background checks of any caregiver of 18, and prohibit caregivers from having a financial interest in their patients.

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