September 8th, 2008

The PA Department of Public Welfare is currently developing new requirements and regulations for assisted living facilities in the state, and is now seeking public input on the issue until Sept. 15.

While DPW aims to protect residents of such facilities with the new rules, they are gaining opposition from two groups– those who think that the regulations will be too invasive, and those that think they don’t go far enough.

The Pennsylvania Assisted Living Consumer Alliance is one of the groups who thinks that the regulations aren’t changing things enough– and that they are being crafted too similarly to the rules for personal care homes.

An opinion piece by Alissa Halperin that echoes these concerns was published yesterday in the Philadelphia Inquirer.  In the piece, Halperin, senior attorney and deputy director of public advocacy at the Pennsylvania Health Law Project, explains in detail the goals of assisted living facilities and why they need unique regulations; calling for the public to make comments to the DPW.  She states:

“We face an awesome opportunity in the weeks ahead. While Pennsylvania is years behind in regulating this industry, we are positioned to learn from other states’ experiences – and mistakes. How can we not take advantage of the chance to do so?”