By AP
Oklahoma City, OK – Okla. panel OKs nursing home binding arbitration
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Legislation that would authorize nursing home residents to voluntarily agree to binding arbitration when a dispute arises with a facility has been approved by an Oklahoma House committee.
The House Long-Term Care and Senior Services Committee voted 8-0 Tuesday to send the measure to the House floor for a vote. The bill has already been approved by the Senate.
The measure's author, Rep. Doug Cox of Grove, says it would change the way nursing home residents resolve disputes by allowing binding arbitration instead of civil court trials.
The president of Grace Living Centers of Oklahoma City, Don Greiner, says binding arbitration would reduce legal costs and speed up the dispute resolution process, allowing residents to be compensated more quickly.
Cox, a physician, says the program is entirely voluntary.