Gov. Whitmer Declines to Answer Rep. Scalise's Questions on Devastating Nursing Home Policy
In Michigan, Gov. Whitmer’s policy that led to a massive increase in nursing home deaths has received
bipartisan criticism. Michigan has a total of 38,000 residents living in nursing homes and reported
1,947; for context, Florida has an estimated 140,000-150,000 residents in nursing homes and saw 1,637 deaths associated with nursing homes. The Detroit News also
reported that Gov. Whitmer’s administration declined a suggestion from the CEO of the Health Care Association of Michigan to move COVID-positive patients to “vacant facilities” rather than highly populated nursing homes, in order to avoid such a widespread infection.
Michigan’s state legislature
passed a resolution last week urging Gov. Whitmer to end the policy that allows COVID-positive patients to share quarters with healthy residents:
"Gov. Whitmer's nursing home policy put the lives of Michigan's most vulnerable to COVID-19 in danger and it's time she explains why the state implemented this disastrous policy and continues it," said Tori Sachs, executive director of Michigan Rising Action. "We applaud the Michigan legislature's resolution denouncing Whitmer's nursing home policy and efforts to pass legislation to protect seniors moving forward."