Pennsylvania Governor Signs New Law to Keep Nursing Homes Accountable

En español | For years we’ve urged federal and state lawmakers to protect long-term care residents by ensuring they receive high-quality care. That advocacy delivered a win this month, as Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf signed a bill requiring nursing homes and other long-term care staffing agencies to register with the state and to verify the credentials of their contractors. The bill will also set up a system to log complaints against staffing agencies and give the state health department authority to penalize them.

Nationally, more than 1 in 4 U.S. nursing homes recently reported staffing shortages. The situation was slightly better in Pennsylvania, where 1 in 5 nursing homes reported a shortage. Research has consistently shown a connection between higher staff levels and more positive health outcomes for residents — particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, with more severe outbreaks often reported in facilities with staffing shortages. Those shortages also put a strain on staff who are left to do more with less.

Learn more about our advocacy work in Pennsylvania and how we’re fighting for nursing home residents.