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Grace Ferguson’s recent investigation into Massachusetts nursing home staffing (Half of all nursing homes in Massachusetts are understaffed, July 28) deserves high praise for its exceptional clarity, rigor, and thoroughness. 

By pairing meticulous analysis of five years of federal data with the deeply human story of a resident in recovery, The New Bedford Light has rendered an invaluable public service.

What makes this reporting particularly vital is how clearly it exposes the gap between statutory standards and daily reality. Pointing out that 51% of Commonwealth facilities failed to meet state staffing minimums at the end of last year — and that MassHealth penalties amount to a negligible 0.5% of Medicaid revenues — strikes at the heart of why chronic understaffing persists. It demonstrates convincingly that without strict enforcement and meaningful financial deterrents, regulatory thresholds exist only on paper while residents pay the physical and emotional price.

Journalism of this caliber is essential to holding both facility operators and state oversight agencies accountable. Thank you to The New Bedford Light for providing the public and policymakers with the unambiguous facts needed to demand meaningful long-term care reform.

Paul J. Lanzikos is coordinator of Dignity Alliance Massachusetts and the former secretary of Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs.

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6 replies on “Letter: Nursing home staffing investigation deserves praise”

  1. Glad her great writing has been recognized by state agency. Now please make the state enforce the laws and see that our elderly are truly cared for in this state.

  2. While industry trade groups continually say they are struggling to make profits, each of the following studies argues that they make approximately 8% profits, but that they hide them.

    LTCCC Alert: New Study Reveals Substantial Hidden Profits in Nursing Home Industry
    https://nursinghome411.org/alert-profit-study/
    Nursing Homes Hide Profits
    https://medicareadvocacy.org/nursing-homes-hide-profits/
    United States’ Nursing Home Finances: Spending, Profitability, and Capital Structure
    https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10955796/
    Senior Care Policy Briefing: Substantial Hidden Profits
    https://nursinghome411.org/policybriefing-dec28/

    Raising penalties would seem to be the answer, and we wonder why, according to the July 28 article, state officials recently reduced the penalties at the request of a trade group, and why Medicaid penalties amounted to only .5% of the 2.3 billion it paid to nursing homes in 2024.

  3. The timing of this article couldn’t have been better. In the last few years nursing homes are being bought out by investment groups who do not care about care and treatment. This article didn’t surprise me at all. When they purchase a nursing home these investors immediately create an LLC for the real estate and set up the care facility as a separate entity. Then they charge outrageous rents that are unaffordable forcing the care facility to cut operating costs and reduce care. The commonwealth has to come up with a plan and system to stop this from happening. I point to one situation as an example and you can do the research on what took place in Fall River with St. Annes Hospital, Hawthorne Medical, and now Brown Health. Also what is taking place in RI, Providence with hospitals that have gone broke. It’s a real shame and seniors, those who need proper care are the ones who pay the price, not financially, but personally.

    1. Agree. The following two articles discuss reforming PBMs, regulating private equity ownership, banning non-compete agreements, establishing merger review processes, and passing laws which restrict non-clinicians from owning or controlling medical practices .

      4 Ways States are Taking on Health Care Monopolies

      How States Can Combat Health Care Consolidation and Corporate Conflicts of Interest

  4. I really think investigating theses organizations that are suppose to help, not hurt the most vulnerable in society, are essential. I am a strong supporter of human rights and that DCF should be in that category. I have seen too much as a long term foster parent.

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