►
From YouTube: Committee on Public Health and Human Services 5-14-2021
Description
The Committee on Public Health and Human Services of the Council of the City of Philadelphia held a Public Hearing on Friday, May 14, 2021, at 10:00 AM, in a remote manner using Microsoft® Teams to hear testimony on the following item:
210331 An Ordinance amending Title 6 of The Philadelphia Code, the “Health Code,” to add a section establishing reporting and employment requirements related to changes in ownership or of the license holder of long term care facilities and hospitals; all under certain terms and conditions.
A
A
D
C
C
I
now
note
that
the
hour
has
come
and
will
the
clerk
will
you
please
call
the
role
to
take
attendance
members
that
are
in
attendance?
Will
please
indicate
that
you
are
present
when
your
name
is
called
also.
Please
say
a
few
brief
words
when
responding
so
that
your
image
will
be
displayed
on
screen
when
you
speak.
Madam
clerk.
E
C
A
E
Bill
210331
an
ordinance
amending
title
vi
of
the
philadelphia
code,
the
health
code
to
add
a
section
establishing
reporting
and
employment
requirements
related
to
the
changing
and
ownership,
or
of
the
license,
holder
of
long-term
care
facilities
and
hospitals.
All
under
certain
terms
and
conditions.
C
Thank
you
before
we
begin
to
hear
testimony
from
the
witnesses
we
have
here
today.
Everyone
who
has
been
invited
to
the
meeting
to
testify
should
be
aware.
This
public
hearing
is
being
recorded
because
the
hearing
is
public
participants
and
viewers
have
no
reasonable
expectation
of
privacy.
By
continuing
to
be
in
the
meeting,
you
are
consenting
to
being
recorded
additionally
prior
to
recognizing
members
for
the
questions
or
comments
they
have
for
witnesses.
C
I
will
note
for
the
record
at
this
time
that
we
will
use
the
chat
feature
available
in
microsoft
teams
to
allow
members
to
signify
that
they
wish
to
be
recognized
in
order
to
comply
with
the
sunshine
act.
The
chat
feature
must
only
be
used
for
this
purpose
before
I
call
on
the
clerk
to
call
the
first
panel,
but
any
of
my
colleagues,
especially
the
bill's
sponsor
like
to
make
any
opening
comments.
B
Thank
you,
madam
chair.
I
want
to
first
and
foremost,
say
thank
you
to
you
and
your
entire
team
for
putting
us
in
a
position
to
be
able
to
have
this
committee
hearing
today
on.
What
I
personally
feel
like
is
an
important
piece
of
the
legislation
we
talked
often
last
year
about
the
importance
of
healthcare
workers
and
the
heroes
that
they
that
they
are,
and
as
often
as
as
council
members,
one
of
the
things
that
people
told
us
was
to
put
our
money
where
our
mouth
is.
B
This
is
one
thing
to
just
it's
one
thing:
to
sit
at
their
heroes
and
give
them
stickers
and
pizza.
It's
another
thing
to
move
legislation
and
make
laws
that
protect
the
people
who
protected
us.
While
we
were
in
the
middle
of
this
coronavirus
pandemic
and
so
the
legislation
today,
it's
not
just
about
the
rally
we
had
yesterday
outside
of
hahnemann
hospital
or
other
closures.
We've
seen
it's
about
protecting
workers,
it's
about
protecting
people
who
use
these
facilities,
whether
it
be
parents,
children,
community
members,
it's
about
protecting
our
city
as
a
city.
B
On
the
other
side,
it's
imperative
that
we
protect
those
same
edge,
meds
and
beds
that
make
us
the
great
city
that
we
are,
and
so
here
today
we're
looking
at
the
meds,
we're
looking
to
protect
that
industry,
we're
looking
to
protect
those
folks,
and
we
want
to
see
as
much
transparency
and
preparation
as
possible
whenever
we
see
the
closing
of
a
healthcare
facility.
So
I
want
to
say
thank
you
again
to
you,
madam
chair.
B
I
want
to
thank
my
colleagues,
councilmember
kim
and
thanks
councilmember
gilmore
richardson
for
joining
me
yesterday,
at
a
rally
with
a
bunch
of
health
care
workers
who
talk
to
us
about
the
importance
of
this
legislation
and
also
want
to
thank
council
members,
o'neill
council
members,
heenan
council
members
brooks
and
councilmember
gaudier
for
their
co-sponsorship
for
this
legislation.
Thank
you,
madam
chair.
I
appreciate
the
time.
C
I
think
if
we
never
knew
before
the
importance
of
healthcare
workers-
and
I
think
we
all
did
but
but
it
it
really
never
completely
sunk
in-
I
think
for
a
lot
of
people
until
cove
did,
and
I
think
that
that
was
a
wake-up
call,
that
everyone
received
all
at
the
same
time
that
hey
we
need
our
healthcare
professionals.
They
are
critically
important
to
all
of
our
well-beings
and
we
better
do
something
to
protect
them.
C
F
Thank
you
so
much
madam
chair,
and
I
also
want
to
thank
the
coast,
the
council
sponsor
for
his
tremendous
leadership
on
this
issue
and
the
work
that
his
team
has
put
in
to
ensure
that
this
is
a
quality
bill
before
this
committee.
So
in
july,
2019,
the
sudden
closure
of
hanuman
hospital
rocked
the
city
in
a
short
two-year
time
span,
a
california
private
equity
venture,
capitalist
named
joel
friedman,
exploited
pennsylvania's,
poor
hospital
protection
laws
to
orchestrate
a
real
estate,
plunder
and
drive
a
story
and
historic
hospital
into
the
ground.
F
This
council
said
never
again.
This
body
has
passed
laws
to
not
only
alert
but
also
engage
the
city
whenever
a
hospital
or
major
closure
happens
again,
but
this
bill
by
by
the
council
by
the
the
bill
sponsor
council
member
thomas,
is
the
necessary
companion
to
actually
ensure
that
future
sales
or
transfers
of
hospitals,
congregate
care
facilities,
seek
stability
in
our
health
care
center
and
will
not
actually
be
based
on
mere
profit
and
greed.
F
Now
this
is
this
bill
to
me
is
particularly
necessary
because,
as
I
said,
pennsylvania's
hospital
regulations
governing
the
closure,
sale
and
transfer
of
critically
important
institutions
are
extremely
weak.
New
jersey,
for
example,
very
closely
governs
the
sale
and
transfer
of
hospitals,
because
the
consequences
of
not
doing
so
are
so
significant,
and
we
saw
that
in
honor
in
the
absence
of
appropriate
state
law
oversight,
local
government
plays
an
incredibly
critical
role
in
ensuring
the
protection
of
workers
of
patients
and
staff
of
our
city
and
of
the
health
care
industry.
Overall.
F
So
again,
I
look
forward
to
the
discussion.
I
welcome
all
of
the
witnesses
and
thank
them.
Many
of
them
are
speaking
from
direct
experience
about
what
they
went
through
during
hahnemann
and
in
other
kinds
of
situations.
Whether
there
are
healthcare
facilities
or
centers
congregate
care
facilities
that
have
transferred
you
know
and
changed
hands
and
thrown
into
the
lurch,
the
lives
of
thousands
of
employees
plus
patients,
clients
and,
ultimately,
of
the
of
the
overall
care
of
our
city.
F
C
Thank
you.
Thank
you
for
your
commentary.
I
also
want
to
recognize
that
we've
been
joined
by
our
colleague
bobby
heenan
this
morning
and
unless
there's
any
additional
comments
from
members
of
council
on
the
committee,
then
we're
going
to
go
ahead
and
move
into
the
hearing
and
call
up
the
first
panel
of
witnesses
on
bill
number
two
one:
zero.
Three
three
one.
Madam
clerk,
please
call
forward
the
first
panel
of
witnesses.
E
C
G
G
Lastly,
this
bill
provides
protections
for
employees
by
requiring
and
acquiring
entity
to
retain
workers
at
the
same
rate
of
pay
and
benefits
for
at
least
90
days
after
the
completion
of
the
sale.
The
administration
strongly
supports
this
bill,
as
proposed
to
be
amended,
and
the
department
of
labor
is
prepared
to
enforce
it.
G
I'd
like
to
thank
councilmember
thomas
for
his
leadership
for
introducing
this
bill,
and
I
look
forward
to
answering
any
questions
that
you
want
to
have
and
again
I'd
like
to
just
say
thank
all
the
healthcare
workers
on
this
call
and
throughout
the
city,
because
helping
us
get
through
this
very
trying
year.
Yes,
cover
19.
C
C
If
you
have
that
laid
out
just
yet
or
if
you're
still
working
on
it?
You
know
we
can
circle
back
and-
and
you
know,
get
that
information
at
a
later
date,
but
if
you
have
thoughts
or
ideas
in
terms
of
how
this
piece
of
legislation
is
going
to
be
enforced,
because
I
think
the
enforcement
is
critically
important.
I
do
think
in
this
town
and
I've
said
it
before
I'll
say
it
again.
We
have
a
problem
with
enforcement.
C
G
Yeah,
I
said
I
think
we
will
definitely
promulgate
the
rules
and
regs
for
this
we'll
follow
the
hotel
bill,
like
we've
done
that
this
council
has
led
on
in
past.
I
think
one
thing
that
we've
done
and
we've
definitely
run
on
more
staff
on
their
candice
tuning
in
our
office
to
do
a
lot
of
outreach.
So
I
think
when
the
city
is
put
on
notice
and
that
there's
going
to
be
a
change,
we
will
make
sure
that
this
information
gets
to
the
employees
of
the
institutions
that
are
involved.
G
I
think,
with
the
great
work
of
seiu
healthcare
and
pasnap.
I
know
on
the
call
and
other
labor
organizations
that
we
work
with.
I
think
I
think
information
is
key,
so
I
think
knowing
people
knowing
their
rights
is
important.
I
think
us
getting
out
that
information
ahead
of
time
is
important
and
just
to
make
sure
if
any
complaints
come
in,
that
we
reach
out
and
work
make
sure
the
institution
is
following
through
to
keep
the
workers
on
at
the
same
pay
and
benefits
rates.
G
I
think
the
third
number
one
would
be
education
and
also
notifying
when
the
city's
notified
the
health
department's
notifying
working
out
a
process
with
health,
then
to
make
sure
we
follow
up
and
get
the
information
and
put
the
employer
on
notice
before
any
actions
taken
that
they
are
required,
that
the
new
employer
will
be
required
to
retain
the
workers
for
at
least
90
days
yeah.
This
is
a
very
cut
and
dry
piece
of
legislation
and
very
cut
and
dry
requirements.
C
B
Thank
you,
madam
chair.
I
just
want
to
say
briefly
thank
you
to
the
administration
for
their
partnership.
With
this
legislation,
we
had
to
work
together
for
a
significant
amount
of
time
to
put
together
a
number
of
different
amendments
over
the
last
couple
weeks
to
put
us
in
a
position
where
we're
doing
the
best
we
can
to
protect
workers
and
people
who
are
in
these
facilities.
B
B
So
we
wanted
to
put
something
together
that
we
knew
we
had
the
ability
to
enforce
and
we
want
to
make
sure
that
we
do
it
in
a
way
that's
advantageous
and
protected
to
the
people
who
need
these
facilities,
which
in
turn,
impacts
the
entire
city
of
philadelphia
and
again,
I
hate
to
keep
bringing
it
up,
but
we've
seen
that
with
with
hanuman
the
ripple
effect
that
had
on
the
entire
city.
So
I
just
want
to
say
thank
you
to
mr
laser
and
everybody
over
there
at
the
administration.
B
G
C
D
D
Is
regina
franklin,
good
morning,
chair
council,
member
bass
and
members
of
the
public
health
and
human
services
committee?
My
name
is
regina
franklin
and
I
am
an
administrative
organizer
at
district,
1199,
c
and
affiliated
of
the
national
union
of
hospital
and
health
care.
Employees
ask
me
afl-cio.
D
Today
I
am
speaking
to
you
to
as
a
former
hospital
worker
who
served
29
years
at
hanuman
university
hospital
as
an
administrative
assistant
in
those
29
years
I
witnessed
honor
and
serve
a
critical
population
of
philadelphia
residents,
including
low-income
residents
and
under
insurance
patients.
On
the
day
that
we
were
informed.
That
honorman
was
to
be
closing.
D
The
rug
was
pulled
out
from
under
the
long-standing
staff
members
and,
most
crucially,
the
patients
we
cared
for.
This
meant
that
suddenly,
patients
who
had
relationships
with
the
doctors
at
heinemann
had
only
a
short
amount
of
time
to
quickly
transition
to
a
new
doctor,
all
under
the
stress
of
potentially
being
uninsured
and
underinsured
staff
were
told
details
of
the
closure
in
a
small,
the
smallest
auditorium
that
they
had.
D
Where
there
were
barely
enough
room
for
us
to
hear
details,
people
were
standing
in
the
hallways,
trying
to
hear
what
they
were
saying
of
what
the
future
of
our
jobs
would
be.
During
the
final
days
at
hahnemann,
the
staff
was
still
taking
care
of
the
patient
with
limited
supply,
including
cutting
towels
in
half
and
purchased
in
our
own
products,
which
were
cups.
D
This
is
dangerous.
A
2021
study
found
that
private
equity,
owned
nursing
homes
had
10
percent
higher
death
rates
among
residents.
This
study
concluded
that
over
a
12-year
period,
private
of
equity,
owned
nursing
homes
led
to
twenty
thousand
deaths.
It
is
our
job
as
a
health
care
providers
to
look
after
the
most
vulnerable
and
insured.
They
are
getting
the
best
k
possible
care.
There
is
putting
profits
over
patient
does
not
do
that.
D
It's
past
due
for
a
solution
to
this.
When
hanuman
was
sold,
there
was
a
domino
effect.
Countless
countless
lives
were
changed
forever
right
here
in
center
city,
including
nurses,
doctors
and
hospital
staff,
some
who
have
dedicated
their
whole
life
to
hanuman.
These
cells
take
a
toll,
I'm
sorry
on
everyone
from
the
patient,
especially
the
patients,
the
staff
and
also
the
families.
D
D
C
I
want
to
thank
you,
ms
franklin,
for
your
testimony
today
and
for
being
here
with
us,
and
you
know
what
you
said
rang
true
in
so
many
different
spaces.
For
me,
I
I
have
a
friend
who
was
a
patient
at
honeymoon
and
pregnant,
very
pregnant
when
hanuman
closed
and
had
to
transfer
to
another
hospital
here
in
the
city,
and
although
you
know
she
delivered
a
beautiful
baby
boy
and
everything
was
fine,
it
was
an
incredibly
stressful
process
for
a
high-risk
pregnancy
that
you
just
never
want
to
see
happen.
C
B
Thank
you,
councilmember.
Thank
you,
madam
chair.
I
just
wanted
to
briefly
say
thank
you
to
regina
for
her
testimony
today,
her
advocacy
and,
most
importantly,
for
representing
the
heroes
all
across
the
city
of
philadelphia
who
helped
us
get
through
this
pandemic.
So
thank
you.
We
appreciate
you
being
here
today.
Thank
you,
madam
chair.
C
H
H
H
H
H
Workers
had
as
much
of
the
workers
have
much
of
their
what
they
fought
for
taken
away
from
them.
Excuse
me,
this
type
of
ownership
change
is
extremely
disruptive
to
both
the
residents
and
the
caregivers,
and
it's
almost
it
almost
leads
to
weakening
the
standards
for
everyone,
and
yet
workers
continue
to
stand
up
and
fight
for.
What's
right,
they
fight
they're
fighting
for
protection
of
their
residents,
they're
fighting
for
each
other.
H
H
The
state
has
failed
when
it
comes
to
the
oversight
and
enforcement
of
his
of
existing
laws.
There
is
a
need
for
moving
the
resources
and
tools
to
investigate
potential
buyers
and
hold
the
opera
hold.
The
operations
operate,
operators
accountable
when
they
fail
to
live
up
to
their
promise
of
provide
providing
quality
care.
H
H
H
C
Thank
you
for
your
testimony
and
thank
you
for
being
here
with
us
today.
It's
very
insightful:
do
we
have
any
comments
or
actually
we're
going
to
ask
the
whole
comments
and
questions
if
you
will,
until
we
get
through
the
entire
panel,
so
if
we
could
have
the
next
speaker,
nelson
jones,
I
believe
that
is
state
your
name
for
the
record
and
begin
your
testimony.
A
A
A
A
They
would
not
participate
in
the
fund
for
health
and
welfare.
They
would
not.
So
that
was
a
non-starter
when
we
sat
there
and
and
they
they
did
it
with
such
arrogance
as
if
there
was
nothing
that
that
could
be
done
in
order
to
prevent
them
from
happening
their
way,
and
I,
I
guess
that's
what's
important
about
this
transparency
bill,
because
once
you
sit
down
and
talk
with
the
owners
when
you
walk
around
now,
every
the
workers
walk
with
their
head
down
low
and
they're
installed
confused,
and
these
residents
stop
being
opportunities.
A
I
couldn't
even
get
a
copic
test,
because
the
chief,
the
head
nurse,
was
doing
five
different
other
things.
It
was.
They
were
just
everybody's
just
running
around
because
there's
enough
not
enough
time
to
get
to
to
provide
with
their
residents
as
well
as
all
the
other
different
jobs
that's
heaped
upon,
and
that's
each
and
every
one
of
us
I
work
in
the
kitchen.
A
They
cut
the
staff.
When
I
first
came
to
summertime,
it
was
like
10
people
working
now,
it's
down
to
three,
so
everybody's
picking
have
to
pick
up
the
pieces
and
they're
constantly
challenging.
They
don't
want
to
give
us
benefits.
So
it's
a
sorry
state
of
interference
and
this
bill
will
hopefully
alleviate
some
of
that
pressure
and
some
of
the
pain,
the
pain
from
the
workers
and
the
pressure
off
of
the
residents.
A
A
It
would
help
us
because
they're
taking
and
all
these
all
these
companies
want
to
do
is
take
take
take.
Take.
We
don't
have
food
to
feed
the
residents.
We
don't
have
supplies
they're,
not
sending
any
new
employees
to
any
kind
of
classes
to
you
know.
So
it's
it's
just
a
it's
chaotic,
so
thankful.
Thank
thanks
for
having
me
speak
this
morning,
and
I
appreciate
it.
Thank
you.
C
I
F
E
I
Thank
you,
councilman
thomas
for
sponsoring
proposed
pieces
of
legislation
and
for
all
those
who,
sponsor
it.
I'm
an
emergency
department,
nurse
at
st
christopher's
hospital
for
children,
a
crucial
safety
net
hospital
for
the
children
of
north
philadelphia,
saint
chris,
has
been
sold
twice
in
the
last
three
years
and
is
now
up
for
sale
again
and
while
councilman
thomas's
proposed
bill
may
not
have
prevented
any
of
those
sales,
it
would
have
gone
a
long
way
towards
preventing
the
swirling,
corrosive
uncertainty
surrounding
them
for
both
the
hospital
staff
and
the
community.
I
The
hospital
serves
the
transparency
and
staff
protections
that
the
billboard
poses
are
not
just
important
on
paper,
they're
also
important
in
tangible
real-life
ways,
and
that's
why
I'm
here
today
to
talk
to
you
about
that.
Sixteen
months
ago,
synchronous
was
bought
by
tower
health
and
drexel
university.
On
that
very
day,
the
sale
went
through.
I
The
nurses
were
informed
that
all
of
our
paid
time
off
banks
had
been
zeroed
out
and
management
would
no
longer
recognize
our
contract
that
the
bargaining
unit
had
to
start
all
over
again,
I
recognize
that
the
time
off
was
taken
away
from
all
hospital
employees,
not
just
nurses,
on
the
cusp
of
the
coveted
crisis
in
our
area,
without
any
warning
whatsoever
or
time
to
prepare.
The
nurses
at
st
chris
had
no
paid
time
off.
I
That's
why
councilman
thomas
proposed
a
bill
would
ensure
by
inking
transparency
and
protections
into
law.
Health
care
is
a
public
good
and
councilman.
Thomas
proposal
is
for
the
good
of
the
public,
it's
much
more
than
that.
We
need
to
get
rid
of
a
corporate
healthcare
system
and
it's
a
necessity
that
we
provide
the
best
care
for
the
children
of
north
philadelphia
and
for
the
staff
members
like
me
who
care
about
them.
Thank
you.
I
C
C
C
So
we
thank
you
for
your
work
as
well
and,
of
course,
with
mr
wendell
royster
for
all
of
the
work
that
you're
doing
through
seiu,
which
has
long
been
you
know
just
at
the
forefront
of
camp
for
our
workers
and
protecting
them.
We
thank
you
as
well.
Councilman,
thomas,
I'm
sorry
did
you
have
a
comment
for
the
panel.
B
I
think
you
did
you
did
the
pillow
justice.
With
your
comment
I
was
I
was
going
to
chime
in
and
and
do
the
same
thing,
but
you
know
just
in
a
spirit
of
time,
I'll
just
say
thank
you
and
just
echo
your
sentiments,
madam
chair.
Thank
you.
I
think
you
were
well
and
to
the
panel.
Thank
you
for
being
so
brave
and
thank
you
for
your
advocacy.
You
are
our
heroes.
We
appreciate
you.
F
Yes,
thank
you
so
much,
madam
chair,
and
I
also
think
that
you
summarized
many
of
my
sentiments
perfectly
and
just
want
to
thank
both
ms
franklin
on
the
first
panel
and
this
panel.
You
know
the
stories
that
you
told
about
hahnemann
the
experiences
that
you've
had
at
nursing
homes
and
other
care
facilities
is
what's
driving
this
bill
and
our
commitment
to
really
see
this
through
so
just
want
to
express,
sorrow
and
regret
that
we
couldn't
do
things
better
when
they
happened.
F
I
don't
think
many
of
us
thought
that
that
it
could
be
that
brutal
or
that
greed
could
do
so
much
harm.
One
individual's
greed
could
do
so
much
harm
and
we
have
got
to
rise
up
from
this
difficult
space
and
ensure
that
it
just
doesn't
happen
again,
but
your
voices
are
really
driving
all
of
this,
and
I
just
want
to
express
my
gratitude
too.
Thank
you.
J
J
You
know,
but
as
as
council
member
helen
kim
just
said,
you
know
this
city
rises
in
the
most
extreme
circumstances
for
the
betterment
of
the
future,
and
I
think
this
is
a
perfect
example
and
and
credit
to
council
member
thomas,
you
know
for
taking
leadiness
councilmember
thomas,
you
know
thank
you
so
much,
and
you
know
this
should
never
happen
again.
This
should
never
be
allowed
to
happen
again,
and
you
know
we've
taken
a
you
together.
J
You
know
with
the
administration,
and
this
body
is
in
the
representations
of
of
all
the
local
unions
and
represented
non-represented
people
who
lived
through
this.
This
hard
experience,
you
know,
will
be
that
example
to
others,
on
what
it's
like,
and
for
people
to
stick
together
and
to
take
policy
and
change
it
for
the
betterment
of
the
city
philadelphia
in
people's
lives.
It
is
a
changing
changing
environment
and
this
has
changed
in
people's
lives.
So
I
just
want
to
thank
you
all,
madam
chair.
Thank
you
so
much
for
your
commitment.
C
K
K
K
I
also
work
in
the
emergency
department
at
st
christopher's
hospital
for
children
and
I'm
here
to
speak
on
behalf
of
councilman
thomas's
proposed
bill
because
corporations
whose
interests
don't
align
with
the
medical
needs
of
our
community
here
in
philadelphia
and
the
caregivers
who
serve
them,
need
to
meet
the
guard
rails.
The
kind
of
guardrails
and
protections
provided
in
this
proposed
bill.
K
My
my
colleague
becky
talked
about
how
some
covet
positive
saint
chris
nurses,
had
to
quarantine
without
pay.
I
was
one
of
the
early
ones
like
right.
When
it
came
down,
our
pto
banks
were
zeroed,
as
she
reported
in
the
on
the
very
day
tower
health
purchased.
The
hospital
nurses
who
had
paid
pto
time
for
their
maternity
leave
were
also
left
high
and
dry.
K
K
K
We
are
having
a
difficult
time
attracting
more
nurses.
We
are
still
in
the
middle
of
a
pandemic.
Our
and
our
staff
is
completely
in
the
dark
about.
What's
going
to
happen
to
saint
chris
and
what's
going
to
happen
to
all
of
us,
we
need
the
knowledge,
the
protections
and
the
inside
council
member
thomas's
bill
would
provide
and
because
we
needed
to
do
our
job
properly,
our
patients,
the
children
of
philadelphia
needed
to
the
more
they
more
than
need
it.
They
deserve
it,
and
so
do
we.
C
L
This
is
kathy
cubit.
I
believe
ira
sapp,
mr
ira
sapp
was
next.
I
just
got
word
from
our
ombudsman
that
the
internet
is
down
in
his
facility
someone's
trying
to
connect
by
phone,
so
I
think
they're
still
trying
to
get
connected.
I
know
he's
really
looking
for.
I
just
spoke
with
him
yesterday.
I
know
he's
looking
forward
to
sharing
his
story
but
I'll
proceed
and
hopefully
they'll
have
luck
with
the
phone.
So
I
want
to
say.
C
L
Covered,
thank
you
so
much.
I
I
appreciate
that
and
I
believe
he
I
know
he
would
appreciate
that
as
well.
My
name
is
kathy
cubit,
I'm
the
advocacy
manager
at
cary,
which
is
the
center
for
advocacy
for
the
rights
and
interests
of
the
elderly,
and
I
too
want
to
thank
you,
chairwoman,
bass,
council,
member
thomas
and
the
members
of
the
committee
on
public
health
and
human
services
for
this
opportunity
to
provide
carrie's
perspective
on
the
impact
of
changes
in
ownership
for
residents
living
in
nursing
homes.
L
We
appreciate
city
council's
interest
in
addressing
issues
related
to
changes
in
ownership
of
long-term
care
facilities.
The
sale
of
nursing
facilities
to
investors
has
led
to
staffing
cuts
and
other
cost-saving
measures
causing
dramatic
declines
in
the
quality
of
care
residents
receive
when
a
change
of
ownership
involves
investors.
The
new
operators
often
create
subsidiaries
with
no
track
record
to
avoid
scrutiny
and
maximize
profits.
L
For
example,
the
real
estate
is
often
separated
from
the
nursing
home's
operation,
so
the
new
owners
can
charge
inflated
lease
or
rental
charges.
Other
subsidiaries
may
sell
goods
or
services
to
the
nursing
home,
such
as
management
services,
laundry
food
and
housekeeping
this
business
model
often
leads
to
loss
of
staff
and
less
care
provided
to
residents.
L
L
Carrying
other
advocates,
like
community
legal
services,
are
involved
in
an
advocacy
campaign
that
is
recommending
that
the
department
of
health
update
its
outdated
nursing
facility
regulations
and
provide
more
due
diligence
before
approving
a
licensed
transfer,
while
the
authority
for
licensing
regulations
and
oversight
of
long-term
care
facilities
falls
on
the
state
and
federal
government.
This
proposed
bill
would
help
bring
transparency
to
the
process
in
philadelphia
and
hopefully
prevent
adverse
outcomes.
L
L
There
are
many
examples
of
serious
problems
that
have
occurred
in
philadelphia
and
pennsylvania
and
throughout
the
nation
as
a
result
of
the
sale
of
nursing
facilities
to
private
equity
companies
and
other
investors,
who
have
little
medical
or
long-term
care
experience
and
whose
primary
goal
is
maximizing
their
profits
in
2017
skyline
healthcare
operating
in
an
office
above
a
pizza
shop
in
new
jersey
received
a
license
in
pennsylvania
to
operate
facilities
formerly
owned
by
the
golden
living
chain.
Within
months,
skylines
stopped
paying
vendors
for
services,
including
housekeeping
laundry
food
and
critical
supplies.
L
L
The
sale
included
saint
monicas,
st
john
newman
and
immaculate
mary
home
prior
to
the
sale
saint
monica's
because
was
considered
a
place
to
go
to
receive
quality
care
after
the
sale.
Carey's
ombudsman
received
complaints
and
observed
staffing
cuts
and
poor
quality
care.
In
addition,
prior
to
the
change
in
ownership
of
saint
monicas,
there
were
no
complaints
related
to
illegal
discharges.
L
L
C
You're,
I'm
sorry,
I'm
getting
feedback!
Your
commentary
really
does
help
us
to
make
sure
that
the
public
knows
that
to
keep
the
worker
safe,
keeps
the
patients
safe,
keeps
everyone
safe.
So
thank
you
so
much
for
your
testimony
and
also
to
miss
russ.
Thank
you
for
your
testimony,
mr
staff.
I'm
assuming
has
not
joined
us.
C
B
Madam
chair,
I
just
wanted
to
thank
this
panel.
Oh
yes,
I'm
sorry.
I
just
wanted
to
thank
this
panel
as
well
too.
I
was
having
a
little
trouble
coming
off
you
there
for
a
second.
We
appreciate
your
testimony
as
well
and
the
narratives
and
the
experiences
that
you
shared
the
ones
that
you
know
really
drive
us
to
do
the
work
that
we're
doing
so.
B
I
just
wanted
to
say
thank
you
to
this
panel
and
I
know
that
there's
a
lot
of
passion
for
folks
who
couldn't
be
here,
we've
seen
some
of
that
energy
yesterday
as
well
too,
but
if
folks
do
submit
written
testimony
that
will
be
taken
into
the
record,
like
our
chair
says.
So.
Thank
you,
madam
chair,
and
thank
you
everybody
for
being
here
today.
C
C
Okay
and
seeing
them
hearing
none,
I
want
to
thank
all
of
the
panels
and
witnesses
for
your
participation
today
we
value
your
opinions
and
I
now
invite
you
to
please
disconnect
from
our
meeting
before
we
go
into
our
public
meeting.
We
will
now
pause
the
proceedings
briefly,
as
participants
will
leave
the
meeting.
Thank
you
very
much
for
attending
and
for
providing
your
input
and
insight
today.
Thank
you.
C
Okay,
this
includes
the
public
hearing
of
the
committee.
We
now
go
into
the
public
meeting
to
consider
the
action
to
be
taken
on
the
bill
before
this
committee
today.
Madam
clerk,
will
you
please
call
the
role
to
take
attendance
members
that
are
in
attendance?
Will
please
indicate
that
you
are
present
when
your
name
is
called
also,
please
say
a
few
brief
words
when
responding
so
that
we
may
see
your
image
on
the
screen
when
you
speak,
madam
clerk.
E
C
J
F
C
Thank
you
and
for
the
record,
I
want
to
note
that
councilwoman
kim
seconds
the
motion
and
it's
been
moved
and
properly
seconded-
that
the
amendment
to
bill
number
210
331,
be
approved.
All
of
those
in
favor
of
this
motion
will
signify
by
saying
I
I
I
anyone
opposed
okay,
the
eyes
have
it
and
the
motion
to
amend
bill
two
one
zero,
three
three
one
has
been
approved.
C
J
C
Second,
chair
recognizes
that
the
the
motion
has
been
seconded
by
councilwoman
kim.
It's
been
moved
and
properly
seconded
to
bill
number
two
one:
zero
three
three
one
as
amended
be
reported
from
this
committee
with
a
favorable
recommendation
and
further
move
that
the
rules
of
council
be
suspended
to
permit
first
reading
of
this
bill
at
the
next
session
of
council.
All
of
those
who
are
in
favor
of
this
motion
will
signify
by
saying
I
I.
C
Anyone
opposed
okay,
the
eyes
have
it.
The
motion
carries-
and
this
concludes
the
business
before
this
committee
of
public
public
health
and
human
services.
Today,
I
want
to
thank
everyone
for
their
attendance.
Thank
you,
councilmember
thomas
for
this
outstanding
piece
of
legislation,
and
thank
you
very
much
for
your
attendance
today.
Everyone
have
a
great
weekend.