MEMBERS:
SEN. PETER J. LUCIDO, VICE CHAIR
SEN. LANA THEIS
SEN. MICHAEL MACDONALD
SEN. JEFF IRWIN, MINORITY VICE CHAIR
THE SENATE
COMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT
SENATOR ED MCBROOM
CHAIR
7200 BINSFELD BUILDING
P.O. BOX 30036
LANSING, MICHIGAN 48909-7536
PHONE: (517) 373-7840
FAX: (517) 373-3932
COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
May 27, 2020
A meeting of the Senate Committee on Oversight was scheduled for Wednesday, May 27, 2020, at 2:30 p.m., in
the S403 Room of the Capitol Building.
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The agenda summary is as follows:
1. Executive Order Number 2020-84 – Rescission of Executive Order 2020-50 - Enhanced
protections for residents and staff of long-term care facilities during the
COVID-19 pandemic.
2. Executive Order Number 2020-95 – Rescission of Executive Order 2020-84 - Enhanced
protections for residents and staff of long-term care facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic
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The Chair called the meeting to order at 2:36 p.m. He instructed the Clerk to call the roll. At that time, the
following members were present: Chair McBroom, Sen.(s) Lucido, Theis and Irwin, a quorum was present.
The Chair invited the committee to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
The Chair entertained a motion by Sen. Theis to excuse absent members from the meeting. Without objection,
Sen. MacDonald was excused.
The Chair entertained a motion by Sen. Lucido to adopt the meeting minutes from May 20, 2020. Without
objection, the minutes were adopted.
The Chair brought up Executive Order Number 2020-84 – Rescission of Executive Order 2020-50 - Enhanced
protections for residents and staff of long-term care facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic and Executive
Order Number 2020-95 – Rescission of Executive Order 2020-84 - Enhanced protections for residents and staff
of long-term care facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic
The Chair invited Rep. Love to testify regarding regional hubs. Rep. Love showed the committee a video
involving patient abuse at a nursing home. Member questions and discussion followed concerning swing-beds,
step-down areas, separate COVID-19 nursing homes, designated COVID-10 units, isolation of COVID-19
patients, designated COVID -19 staff and inspections of hubs.
In an effort to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus, the Senate Committee on Oversight initiated a Zoom
meeting to allow speakers to present testimony remotely. All of the following presenters spoke via Zoom.
The Chair invited Salli Pung, Michigan Long-Term Care Ombudsman, to testify. Member questions and
discussion followed concerning facility surveys and questionnaires; CDC regulations vs state guidelines; in
room cameras; separation of COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients; designation of specific COVID-19
facilities; regional hubs; staffing; PACE programs; duties of the Ombudsman's office; numbers of complaints
received by Ombudsman's office normally and since COVID-19 pandemic started; nursing home patient deaths
related to COVID-19. Committee members requested additional information to be provided by the Office of the
Long-Term Care Ombudsman.
The Chair invited Robert Gordon, Director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to
testify. Member questions and discussion followed concerning the long-term care facilities executive orders;
data reporting; dedicated COVID-19 facilities; swing beds, placement flexibility, testing for COVID-19;
infection control in nursing homes; staffing of nursing homes and COVID-19 facilities; reporting of deaths;
how other states collect and report data.
Additional testimony was provided by Orlene Hawks, Director of the Michigan Department of Licensing and
Regulatory Affairs, Larry Horvath, Director of Community and Health Systems within the Michigan
Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs and Kate Massey, Senior Deputy Director of Medical services
Administration within the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
Continued member questions and discussions followed regarding COVID-10 death data reporting by county
and in mixed patient environments; staffing and staff pay and leave time; infection surveys and outcomes;
reviewing current COVID-19 plan and recommendations for improvements and communication between
facilities. Committee members requested additional information to be provided by all departments.
The Chair moved to adjourn the meeting. Without objection, the committee was adjourned at 4:42 p.m.
Date Adopted by Committee: 06/09/2020