Burns vows to fight proposed closure of Ebensburg State Center
Care for 221 severely disabled patients, 702 jobs at stake
Rep. Frank Burns September 20, 2017 | 9:59 AM
EBENSBURG, Sept. 20 – Saying more than 700 jobs and specialized care for nearly 225 mentally and physically disabled adults are at stake, state Rep. Frank Burns, D-Cambria, is vowing to lead the fight against a bill that would close the Ebensburg State Center.
Burns said H.B. 1650, authored by Republican state Rep. Kerry Benninghoff of Centre County, would mandate closure of all five of Pennsylvania’s remaining intermediate care facilities by 2023 – including the one in Ebensburg.
Burns said that while he understands the desire to cut costs by moving these residents to home- and community-based settings, he has a deep desire to make sure that the voices of family members are heard before any systemic change is made.
“As someone who has visited the Ebensburg facility, I have witnessed the care needs of its residents and heard from many grateful family members,” Burns said. “The current staff does an excellent job dealing with adults who have very serious mental and physical disabilities – and for whom ‘round-the-clock care’ is not just a phrase, but a reality.
“Before we go changing a system that has literally kept people alive, sometimes beyond medical expectation, there should be a full vetting and support from all stakeholders – starting with those who have loved ones in the Ebensburg State Center.”
Burns said while the bill’s passage does not appear to be imminent – it currently sits in the House Health Committee, where it was assigned in July – he plans to fight the proposed closure on grounds of loss of specialized care and jobs.
Burns said the facility houses 221 residents and has 702 employees, according to figures he recently obtained from the state Department of Human Services.