Louisiana lawmakers demanded answers from health officials on Friday over the mismanaged nursing home evacuation that left multiple residents dead and resulted in seven facilities having their licenses revoked.
The hearing is in response to the outrage over the evacuation to a warehouse of more than 800 residents in preparation for Hurricane Ida, the Daily Advertiser first reported. The residents were all from facilities owned by Baton Rouge developer Bob Dean, who also owned the warehouse. Department of Health officials called conditions at the unsanitary warehouse “inhumane.”
The death toll among the residents since has risen to 15. The state of Louisiana in response to the evacuation revoked the licenses and terminated state Medicaid provider agreements for the facilities.
When questioned about the warehouse having only portable toilets, Director of Regulatory Affairs Stephen Russo said the health department doesn’t approve evacuation plans but rather just reviews them.
“I keep coming back to the nursing home that is responsible for the health and safety of their residents,” Russo said.
Lawmakers signaled that tougher oversight could be down the line for providers.
“This was a catastrophic failure,” Republican Covington Sen. Patrick McMath said. “I think requiring permanent restrooms with handicap access at an evacuation site seems like common sense.”
