Capital Region Delegation Members Release Statement on Co-Sponsorship of Safe Staffing for Quality Care Act

ALBANY, NY — Last Thursday, January 28th, 2021, New York State Attorney General Letitia James released a report identifying issues within nursing homes’ responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, one of those being unsafe staffing levels. The OAG’s report found that low staff-to-resident ratios contributed to the crisis that unfolded and recommends that New York enact safe staffing ratios in these facilities to set the maximum number of residents each care provider can be asked to care for at a given time.

Members of New York’s Capital Region delegation including Assemblymembers Patricia Fahy (D-109), John McDonald (D-108), Carrie Woerner (D-113), and Phil Steck (D-110) released the following statement:

“Capital Region lawmakers are deeply concerned about New York nursing homes’ response to the COVID-19 pandemic and commend the Attorney General for shining a light on nursing home practices that cost lives.

New York’s healthcare workers have been on the frontlines of the pandemic since March 2020 and our families deserve better. We are co-sponsoring the Safe Staffing for Quality Care Act in the State Legislature to deliver quality care and save lives in nursing homes and hospitals as we continue to battle COVID-19, and beyond.

Knowing that more lives may have been saved with adequate staffing weighs heavily on frontline caregivers and on patients’ loved ones. As legislators, we can support our frontline heroes and our communities by passing this important legislation.“

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