Greed, ghosts, and grand juries: The formation of nursing home law and Oklahoma’s Health Department scandal

Abstract

This work examines the creat ion of law and the Oklahoma Health Department scandal. It uses an integrative connict model of law format ion to analyze strcture l foundations, perceptions of crime, and triggering events leading to the passage of nursing home legislation. A content analysis of news reports and reform group documents shows that a new law for quality long-term care emerged after the disc losure of bribery allegations against a high-level health department official and a nursing home operator. Findings
suggest the efficacy of the legislation is questionable based on cultural issues concerning negative images of the elderly, interest group innuence, and continued reports of substandard care.