Today, the Disability Law Center (DLC) is releasing another report, Profits Over People: Utah’s Oversight Failures Create a Lifetime of Harm, that explores the State’s oversight of long-term care facilities with a focus on three different types of facilities that serve Utahns across the lifespan and across the spectrum of disabilities. In particular, the report looks at the Upper Payment Limit Program (UPL), Provo Canyon School, and Safe and Sound Services.
“During our investigations we found common concerns of a large amount of public funding with a lack of transparency on how it is spent, a failure to prioritize resident care over the potential for profits, and a weak oversight system that does not have the resources necessary to protect patients. While we understand providers must remain profitable to continue operating, some of the patient harms we’ve seen and detailed above have resulted from egregious conditions, a lack of competent staff, and an inability to meet basic needs in some instances.” – Excerpt from Profits Over People.
The report covers a tragic death in a UPL facility due to a failure to follow a care plan, the horrific conditions DLC staff saw at Provo Canyon School, and the heartbreaking deaths of 3 men with intellectual disabilities because of a lack of staff and a lack of oversight of a troubling provider. These are used to highlight the systemic issues in long-term care in Utah and make recommendations to Utah’s policymakers to improve our system.
“This report simply reiterates what the DLC has been saying for over a decade, that the State has failed to provide the oversight necessary to fulfill their duty to protect the health and safety of those in long-term services and supports,” said Nate Crippes, Public Affairs Supervising Attorney for the DLC. “Too often, Utah has prioritized facilities and profits over the wellbeing of Utahns with disabilities, and we, once again, urge State Officials to review our recommendations and make the necessary reforms to protect those in long-term care settings.”
While we are pleased that the Office of Licensing has taken action against some of these facilities, and that some in the State are taking a closer look at the UPL program, Utah must be proactive in its efforts to address these systemic deficiencies. We call on our State to do better, and we encourage you to join this call.