Carlyle Group buying up nursing homes

[Algorem]

SEIU: Carlyle and Manor Care Attempting to Steamroll Care Concerns, Regulatory ProcessSEIU: Carlyle and Manor Care Attempting to Steamroll Care Concerns, Regulatory Process

Posted : Wed, 19 Dec 2007 15:45:03 GMT
Author : Service Employees International Union
Category : PressRelease


WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With a year-end deadline looming to close a $6.6 billion takeover deal, the Carlyle Group and HCR Manor Care, the nation's largest nursing home chain, are attempting to steamroll the regulatory process in states to avoid addressing concerns about resident care. Despite a push to get states to rubber stamp approval of the buyout, state officials in Florida, Maryland, Oklahoma, Kansas, Virginia, Michigan, Illinois, and West Virginia have yet to issue licenses for the Carlyle takeover of nursing homes, according to the latest information available to SEIU. Those eight states have approximately 120 Manor Care nursing homes, nearly half of all Manor Care's skilled nursing facilities.

Despite the fact that eight states have not approved the takeover, Manor Care spokesperson Rick Rump was cited by the Associated Press as claiming that "Regulators in more than 30 states have now approved the sale.... The only state that hasn't is West Virginia."

"Carlyle and Manor Care are pulling out all the stops in an attempt to steamroll the process," said Gerry Hudson, Executive Vice President, SEIU Healthcare, "They seem to want this deal all packaged up with a bow for the holidays, even if it means ignoring the responsible questions of state officials and others about the impact on care. It appears they weren't prepared for people to ask questions about the impact of this deal on nursing home residents and caregivers."

Manor Care staffing levels are below those identified by experts in a federally commissioned study as improving patient outcomes and its homes have been cited repeatedly for deficiencies that violate resident care standards. Residents, family members, and caregivers are calling on regulators and lawmakers to make sure the Carlyle buyout will make care better and increase staffing to recommended levels.

More background at http://www.carlylefixmanorcarenow.org/

Service Employees International Union

[lonestarnot]

1. I wouldn't house my dog in one of their joints.

[mac2]

4. You might not have a choice...

when this administration is all about monopolies not competition or public institutions.

[KansDem]

10. I know what you mean. I'd live under a bridge before I live in a facility own by The Carlyle Group

Unless, of course, the bridge fell in on me due to cost-cutting measures...

[emilyg]

12. My Dad

was at Manor Care in Georgia. Excellent care. I did check twice a day - that probably helped.

[lonestarnot]

17. That always helps.

:hug:

[Turbineguy]

2. You'd think that Carlyle

would not invest in something that would be hurt by the economic destruction of the middle class. But then again, the GOP's days may be numbered.

[mac2]

3. Carlyle and Halliburton

profit on our misery and health needs. Theyshould mention the "privitized prisons and mercinary military profit goops. Every sector of our society is for profit...even religious ones.

[gauguin57]

5. Guy from the Carlyle group just bought Perot's copy of the Magna Carta, too.

And I thought it was gonna be disney and microsoft that were gonna own everything.

[KansDem]

8. Wasn't it Upton Sinclair who said there'd be no revolution of workers?

Instead, all these corporations will just buy each other until there is only one huge corporation that owned (and ran) everything.

I thought I heard this back during my high-school "daze..."

edited to correct preposition...

[OzarkDem]

6. Copying Ohio GOP again

They must have offered a seminar on how to buy influence and use a chain of nursing homes to milk the Medicaid and Medicare system for campaign contributions and profit!

The system was perfected in Ohio where the GOP passed laws requiring the state to buy beds in nursing homes at permanently inflated prices, whether they were occupied or not. Sweeeet deal!

[Algorem]

19. Crooks (R) Them

i had tinfoil idea rattling around in my head that severely injured soldiers are great for nursing home profits

[porphyrian]

7. Human subjects for weapons research?

Or just a prudent investment, giving the number of people who'll be in them in the next decade or so?

[Ganja Ninja]

9. There's not much profit in them but the pure joy you get from ...

kicking frail old destitute octogenarians out on the street makes up for it.

:sarcasm:

[supernova]

11. Is there anything Carlsyle doesn't buy?

:banghead: :nuke:

[riona]

13. Maybe this is how the Medicare and Social Security population

will controlled in the future. :scared:

[AtomicKitten]

14. They've always got an angle.

I would hate to find out they are experimenting to see how far a dollar stretches in the care of the elderly by striving for the level of care that will shut them down and backing off a bit.

[zbdent]

15. Magna Carta? We don't need no steenkin' Magna Carta ...

or the rights that they granted people ...

[hunter]

16. I'll bet the federal government is about to increase subsidies for nursing homes...

About exactly the amount Carlyle will take away in "profits."

They care about our senior citizens, they really do!

[Judi Lynn]

18. For those who enjoy a challenge, it could be quite the adventure to check into a Carlyle "home,"

and make a lot of noise, perhaps putting up signs, about one's Democratic views. What about creating a Democratic Wing at a Carlyle residential care center?

What are the chances of getting really superior care? Every day would be an adventure.

[Canuckistanian]

20. Next purchase? Daycare center chains

Not hard to see where this is going, gang.

[Mike03]

21. Good catch. Thank you. This tells us what Carlyle thinks

are the future trends.

[BeHereNow]

22. Yes, it's future thinking- we are soon to have the largest geriatric population

in our history.
What fun to be ware housed for profits, eh?
I can't wait.

BHN