Many nursing homes lack insurance
Many nursing homes lack insurance

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By Randy Ellis

Published: March 18, 2008

Increasing numbers of patients are suffering injuries from horrendous abuse and neglect at Oklahoma nursing homes that have dropped their medical liability insurance coverage, a Tulsa consumer advocacy group charged Tuesday.

The number of uninsured Oklahoma nursing homes has skyrocketed in recent years to the point where there are now at least 56 uninsured homes with 6,621 beds, according to the Tulsa-based Oklahoma Center for Consumer & Patient Safety.

"Based on information provided to the Center, over 20 percent of the beds in Oklahoma are in nursing homes that refuse to carry insurance," said Hugh M. Robert, executive director of the nonprofit group. "The number is likely a lot higher, but since it is not currently required or reported, we have to rely on unofficial methods of collecting data."

The consumer group called a press conference at the state Capitol Tuesday to push for legislation that would require nursing homes to either carry medical liability insurance or provide proof they have sufficient assets to pay substantial damages if they are found responsible for injuries caused by abuse or neglect.

Becky Moore, executive director of the Oklahoma Association of Healthcare Providers, said her nursing home group opposes mandatory medical liability insurance coverage.

"Underfunding from Medicaid and Medicare has forced many nursing home owners to make a choice, either pay for liability insurance or pay for taking care of residents," Moore said.

Unless the government wants to increase Medicaid payments to cover the cost of insurance, it should not mandate insurance coverage, she said.

Moore said she doesn't know how many nursing homes are without medical liability insurance, but said the number has increased dramatically since a company that insured about 90 percent of the nursing homes in the state went bankrupt three or four years ago.

"Premium rates have increased five times over what they were five years ago," she said, adding that insurance policies also now have huge deductibles.

Financial pressures have forced many owners to drop coverage, she said.

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