7/24/2019 Grand Rapids Veterans Home-another scandal for
Snyder?
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Grand Rapids Veterans Home AuditAnother Snyder Scandal?
Problems were raised three years,
Gov. Snyder still reeling from the fallout over his handling of
the Flint water crisis is now facedwith another scandal. An audit
by the States Auditor General says workers employed by 2SGroup
Healthforce at the Grand apids !eterans Home "ichigan home falsely
claimed theywere checking on patients after being alerted of
possible falls# failed to properly investigateallegations of abuse
and neglect# and took too long to fill prescription. $he adult also
found that%2S despite repeated warnings from state officials
continue to provide inade&uate staffing
$he audits findings were no surprise veterans and their families
who have long advocatedagainst the privati'ation of many of the
functions the facility.
Studies have found that privati'ing does not save money in the
long run and the &uality of care iscompromised. (ne such study
was done by oland )ullo from the *niversity of "ichigantitled#
+,rivati'ing esident -are Aides at the Grand apids Home for
!eterans %ob Analysis
and ,olicy /mplications0. )ullo found1 +uality of care0 is in
large part a function of therelationship between the care giver and
the veteran. $he &uality of care is negatively impactedwith
contract staff because of high turnover rates# reduced safety for
the !eterans and increasingchances of accidental death or in3ury.
4ue to the lower paying 3obs and no insurance or
benefits#contracted staff are less reliable and more likely to
call5in or 3ust fail to show up for a shift. $heyare more likely to
move on when a more attractive opportunity arises because their
wage issimply not enough to support basic needs such as housing#
food and transportation. "any of thecontract workers could have
second 3obs and treat their 3ob at the Grand apids Home for!eterans
as a means for supplementing other income sources.0
/n 2672# Governor Snyder following the lead of the "ichigan
8egislature cut 9:.2 million fromthe Grand apids Home for !eterans.
!eterans fought the privati'ation and cut in services. /n267; Gov.
Snyder laid off over 7 ?hy was the contract approved despite
studiesshowing the &uality of care would likely suffer> And
how is it that# after years and years ofproven malfeasance and
inade&uacy# %2S has kept the contract and continues to profit
fromta@payer dollars>
Shortly after the audit was released# %eff arnes# a former
campaign manager to Gov. ick
Snyder# resigned as director of the "ichigan !eteran Affairs
Agency. %ames obert edford ofBast Grand apids# SnyderCs chief legal
counsel# has been named interim director. $he fo@guarding the hen
house>
Alan %. Dilar
