Liability costs for WV nursing homes among the highest in the nation

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – West Virginia’s nursing homes are experiencing high liability costs because of a growing number of lawsuits, outrageous settlement demands and excessive jury awards. According to Aon Risk Solutions, a global risk management firm, West Virginia ranks second in the nation in costs associated with lawsuits against long term care facilities.
 
Aon cites the projected occupied bed loss rate in 2014 for West Virginia at $6,620 per occupied bed compared to Texas at an occupied bed loss rate of just $310. Texas has implemented comprehensive legal reform. The study is titled “2014 Long Term Care: General Liability and Professional Liability Actuarial Analysis.”
 
“The liability costs for West Virginia nursing homes are way out of line, and the legislature needs to immediately address this issue. Out-of-state trial lawyers, such as the Hattiesburg Mississippi law firm featured in a recent ABC investigation “Lear Jet Justice in West Virginia,” have engaged in aggressive tactics that are driving up costs for West Virginia’s seniors,” said Patrick Kelly, West Virginia Health Care Association (WVHCA) Chief Executive Officer.
 
The WVHCA represents long term care facilities in West Virginia. More than 18,000 people work in the long term care profession in West Virginia and care for more than 12,000 residents each day. WVHCA is a state affiliate of the national organization, the American Health Care Association (AHCA) and National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL). For more information about long term care providers in West Virginia, contact the WVHCA at (304) 346-4575 or visit www.wvhca.org.