Consumer Group Fights Nursing Home Tort Reform

A new consumer advocacy group, Arkansas Consumer Advocates, has formed to fight lobbying efforts by the nursing home industry and insurance groups supporting tort reform for nursing homes. r

A report by the Special Investigations Division Committee on Government Reform of the U.S. House of Representatives released this month found that at 90 percent of Arkansas’ 245 nursing homes violated federal health guidelines and one-third of the nursing homes in violation harmed residents or placed them at risk.r

Joey McCutchen, a Fort Smith lawyer, is leading the efforts to fight the tort legislation. r

McCutchen said on Dec. 1 that the group had been trying to revive a nursing home tort bill during the anticipated special session for education in December, but has since backed off that idea.r

The group is now pushing for a separate legislative session in the spring, he said. r

ACA has vowed to push for insurance and lobbyist reform, working in concert with the AARP, Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association and Arkansas Advocates for Nursing Home Residents. r