SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Overcrowding at some Illinois nursing homes caused a disproportionate number of preventable deaths among Black and Latino residents of those facilities.

That is the conclusion of the Department of Healthcare and Family Services which is proposing $300 million in new funding for nursing homes that hire more workers or take other steps to benefit residents.

Department director Theresa Eagleson on Wednesday told lawmakers heavy reliance on crowding three or four people into one room was far more common in Medicaid-funded homes serving Black and Hispanic residents.

As a result, 60% of COVID-related deaths of nursing home residents between March and July 2020 occurred in facilities where at least 10% of residents were in rooms with three or more people.