The United States is on the Brink of a Crisis in Long-Term Care
With a rapidly aging population and nursing homes already plagued by systemic neglect, the stakes have never been higher.
While efforts under the Biden administration, such as strengthening minimum staffing requirements for nursing homes, have aimed to address these systemic issues, the progress is fragile. Deregulation and a lack of oversight—coupled with celebrity doctor Dr. Mehmet Oz leading Medicare and Medicaid—threaten to undo these critical safeguards and leave seniors at even greater risk.
For over a decade, I've held nursing homes accountable for neglect and abuse, recovering many millions of dollars for families devastated by systemic failures.
Our firm's work has exposed an uncomfortable truth—without accountability, vulnerable seniors suffer in silence while private equity and corporations profit at their expense.
Today, that truth is more urgent than ever.
The Accountability Crisis in Nursing Homes
The majority of nursing homes in the United States are already operating under unsafe conditions, with 95 percent understaffed and unable to meet even basic care standards.
Minimum staffing requirements, a critical safeguard for residents, are often relaxed to maximize profits. The result? Higher rates of bedsores—classified as Medicare "never events"—and other preventable injuries.
These issues are the direct consequence of leaving oversight and regulation to a market-driven system. When facilities prioritize shareholders over patients, dignity—a fundamental right—is the first thing to disappear.
Imagine a case where:
- Pressure ulcers or bedsores become so severe from understaffing that a resident's bones are exposed.
- A facility is so short-staffed on an overnight shift that no one is available to respond to an emergency, leading to a resident's death.
- A facility fails to order life-saving medication, and in those critical moments, the resident suffers and passes away—leaving behind loved ones who had expected them to come home the following week.
These are not hypothetical scenarios; they are real-world tragedies, some of which our attorneys have taken to trial.
These families are left grappling with profound loss, and when they seek answers, they uncover a harsh reality—the care their loved ones received fell far short of what was promised.
Dr. Oz’s Leadership of Medicare and Medicaid
Dr. Mehmet Oz’s new role raises alarming questions.
Denied by the voters of Pennsylvania and now thrust upon the nation, his history of promoting unverified treatments and dubious health advice casts serious doubt on his ability to lead two of the nation's most critical health care programs.
His appointment threatens to erode the oversight systems that protect our most vulnerable seniors.
Tort Reform — Shielding Negligent Institutions
A key pillar of some health care policies focused on deregulation is tort reform—legislation designed to limit lawsuits against corporations.
While framed as a cost-saving measure, tort reform strips families of their right to seek justice when their loved ones are harmed.
Arbitration agreements, for example—often buried in nursing home contracts—force disputes out of the courtroom and into the hands of corporate-friendly panels.
Families lose their 7th Amendment right to a jury trial, and the community's ability to hold negligent institutions accountable is erased.
Policymakers advocating for such measures claim they reduce costs, but in reality, they embolden nursing homes to cut corners, knowing the legal consequences are minimal at best.
What Dr. Oz’s Leadership Could Mean
Dr. Oz's appointment as the head of Medicare and Medicaid sends a clear signal—the health care of millions may be entrusted to someone with a history of prioritizing personal branding over evidence-based medicine.
This is especially concerning in the context of long-term care, where oversight is already tenuous.
A platform favoring deregulation often aligns with private equity investment in nursing homes—a model that prioritizes returns for investors over quality care.
In Florida, the expanding footprint of private equity ownership has coincided with declining care standards and rising profits.
If Medicare and Medicaid move further toward supporting private equity interests under Oz’s leadership, the quality of care will undoubtedly deteriorate nationwide.
What Families Need to Know Now
With Baby Boomers flooding nursing homes in record numbers in the coming years, families must prepare for an environment where profit-driven policies overshadow patient care. Here's what they need to know:
✔️ Understand the Risks of Arbitration Agreements
These clauses remove your right to a jury trial. Choose facilities that don’t mandate them.
✔️ Advocate for Staffing Standards
Ask about staff-to-resident ratios and look for facilities that exceed minimum requirements.
✔️ Monitor Loved Ones' Care
Document any signs of neglect or abuse, and don’t hesitate to report issues.
Most importantly, families must stay informed about political changes that could further erode accountability in long-term care.
The Fight for Dignity Must Continue
The stakes for long-term care in America have never been higher.
Deregulation, paired with Dr. Mehmet Oz leading Medicare and Medicaid, threatens to dismantle the systems meant to protect our most vulnerable citizens in favor of profit-driven policies.
Dignity isn't a privilege—it's a right.
As a nation, we must fight to ensure that every senior receives the care and respect they deserve.
Accountability is the foundation of a health care system that works for everyone.
Attorney Geoff Moore, founding partner of Moore Payne Law, specializes in medical malpractice, nursing home negligence, and wrongful death.
The views expressed in this article are the writer's own.
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