Covid Pits Nursing Homes Against Seniors’ Groups Over Liability

Nursing homes are taking on the nation’s senior citizens’ groups over whether to extend new liability protections to long-term facilities.

Senate Republicans, with the backing of industry groups, want new liability shields to cover a host of health-care businesses, including hospitals, doctors’ practices, and nursing homes, as a way to encourage them to reopen their doors.

Groups led by AARP, the nation’s largest nonprofit for seniors, are pushing back on new liability shields. AARP is opposing executive orders in 19 states that have granted some kind of lawsuit protection for nursing homes. They warned the leaders of the Senate Judiciary ...