Tragedy must lead to reforms Michael Brevda FacebookTwitterEmail Photo illustration by Jeff Boyer / Times Union New York is making national headlines for the wrong reason. Nursing home negligence is pervasive in every corner of the state. However, out of this tragedy springs an opportunity for real change. In the wake of the unacceptably high casualties in New York’s nursing homes, Gov. Andrew Cuomo has promised “sweeping nursing home reform.” Here are some options we see in other states which can usher in real change in New York’s long term care industry. Amplifying civil damages for negligence: Most of these for-profit facilities have a focus on profits over people, and this is getting worse as more private equity funds are buying nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Many of these facilities only care about one thing: money. If the state does not economically dis-incentivize bad nursing home care, these facilities will not change.