Return to the Missouri
House of RepresentativesWhereas, in a meeting of over one hundred fifty people in the community of Owensville, Missouri at Frene Valley Healthcare South, located at 1016 Highway 28, Owensville, Missouri 65066, fervent testimony was given by residents, their family members, family members of past residents, and staff regarding the recent inspection and revisit inspection by inspectors from the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA); and
Whereas, family members were appalled by the deficiencies cited by HCFA regarding the care Frene Valley Healthcare South provides to its residents because of the family members' personal knowledge of the quality of care provided by the facility's employees, including nursing, dietary, housekeeping, maintenance and administrative staff; and
Whereas, staff members felt intimidated by the unrealistic expectations and actions of the federal inspectors which exceeded all regulatory authority, violated residents' rights and disrupted care; and
Whereas, residents expressed anger at the violation of their rights and dignity, distress over the interruption of an intrusion upon their care, and fear over the outcome of these federal inspections with the possible loss of their home, a home that demonstrates daily a true homelike environment and family atmosphere; and
Whereas, family members with loved ones who live or have lived in the facility demonstrated their support of Frene Valley Healthcare South by continually placing family members in the care of staff and employees of Frene Valley Healthcare South; and
Whereas, the residents' attending and consulting physicians, the facility's medical director, the facility's health care and dietary consultants, after review of the residents' medical records and based upon their personal knowledge of the residents at Frene Valley Healthcare South, their medical condition and the care provided by the employees of Frene Valley Healthcare South, believe that the deficiencies cited by the federal inspectors are erroneous, unreasonable, unrealistic and fail to take into account the residents' choices, quality of life, and resident outcomes; and
Whereas, members of the Ninetieth General Assembly of Missouri have visited and observed care at Frene Valley Healthcare South:
Now, therefore, be it resolved that the members of the House of Representatives of the Ninetieth General Assembly, Second Regular Session, the Senate concurring therein, hereby express concern over HCFA's regulatory overreaching and the imposition of sanctions, including monetary fines when such moneys could better be used for resident care, relating to the quality Frene Valley Healthcare South nursing home of Missouri; and
Be it further resolved that the members of the Missouri House of Representatives request that the recent federal inspection and revisit findings relating to Frene Valley Healthcare South and all sanctions imposed thereon be rescinded; and
Be it further resolved that the Chief Clerk of the Missouri House of Representatives be instructed to prepare properly inscribed copies of this resolution for the President of the United States, the Administrator of the Health Care Financing Administration, Nancy-Ann Min DeParle, and the members of the Missouri Congressional delegation.
Offered by Representatives Merrill Townley and Jim FroelkerReturn to the Missouri
House of Representatives