Elderly Protection Act Advances in House

Older Missourians would find it easier to pay for nursing home care and problems within homes would be easier to prosecute under a bill moving forward in the House.The sponsor of the Elderly Protection Act doesn’t like all the changes the House made to his bill. But Representative Craig Hosmer of Springfield is happy it has passed its first-round vote.Hosmer objects to an amendment that would allow nursing homes cited for deficiencies to petition the Division of Aging for more money, saying it provides the wrong incentive.Another amendment increased the assets a person could have to qualify for Medicaid reimbursement from $1,000 to $7,000. Hosmer favors 4,000, arguing any more would raise the cost of the bill too high. The bill stiffens criminal penalties against nursing homes. It needs another favorable vote to move to the Senate.