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Rep Mary Whiteford
Whiteford plan will improve COVID-19 policies within hospitals, nursing homes
RELEASE|December 17, 2020

State Rep. Mary Whiteford today led the House in approving a reform to fix a problem creating a bottleneck of patients waiting to be admitted to care and recovery centers while recuperating from COVID-19 in Michigan.

Whiteford, of Casco Township, said her reform will help streamline the Michigan Department of Health and Human Service’s approval process for care and recovery centers (CRCs) where COVID-positive elderly patients who don’t require the critical care of a hospital can comfortably recover from the virus.

“This solution will eliminate bureaucratic barriers and expedite the process, so we have a place for elderly and vulnerable COVID-19 patients to recover outside the hospital and without exposing general nursing home populations to the virus,” Whiteford said. “It will also free up space in our hospitals for patients who need the most critical care.”

The substitute to Senate Bill 417, offered by Whiteford, would adjust the quality star rating requirements for CRCs in order to remove barriers to the approval process without compromising the health and safety of the public.

“The Department of Health and Human Services has communicated to us the significant barriers it runs into during the approval process for these centers,” said Whiteford, a registered nurse and chair of the Health and Human Services budget subcommittee. “I heard their concerns and this plan delivers the solutions they need.”

Presently, there are just 15 CRCs throughout the state. Whiteford said this simple change will make up to 101 facilities eligible to become CRCs, easing the pressure on hospitals across the state.

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