Macomb Today

Rep. Jeff Yaroch (R-Richmond) says Michigan’s Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) did not review science, data or research before placing patients who tested positive for COVID-19 into nursing homes alongside other patients.

“LARA is the department responsible for ensuring the safety of Michigan’s nursing home patients,” Yaroch said, according to Michigan House Republicans. “In their responses to my questions, LARA officials said they do not determine policies regarding nursing homes, so they didn’t look at the data. But they also claim they provided input to the administration. So which is it?”

If the agency can’t explain its actions, “Then this is a reckless policy, which is needlessly putting a vulnerable population in danger, and they are complicit in what is taking place,” Yaroch told Michigan House Republicans.

Rep. Jeff Yaroch | Michigan House Republicans

LARA had 80 inspectors “in the trenches inspecting nursing homes,” according to Yaroch.

“It is clear from LARA’s testimony that they blindly followed whatever the Department of Health and Human Services said and did not care enough about our nursing home patients to even question if this was a good idea -- when it is their duty to protect them,” Yaroch said, reported Michigan House Republicans. “I guess it is more important to LARA to go along to get along.”

LARA also told Yaroch there were “lapses” in infection control surveys, which could provide feedback on the effectiveness of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s COVID-19 plan.

“This is a highly transmissible virus, so lapses equate to people getting sick and people potentially dying,” he told his party's website. “That response is concerning, and it shows the administration needs to review this course of action.”

Yaroch sponsored legislation to create a new COVID-19 nursing home policy, and he supported Senate Bill 956, which would have prohibited the admission of COVID-19 patients into nursing homes.

Whitmer vetoed SB 956 July 31.

“Senate Bill 956 is nothing more than a political game that would relocate vulnerable seniors without any requirement for consent, doctor’s approval or notification to patients and their families,” Whitmer said in a statement, the Washington Examiner reported.