SB406:

Nursing homes & certified nursing facilities; minimum staffing standards, administrative sanctions.

Bill Summary:

Minimum staffing standards for nursing homes
and certified nursing facilities; administrative sanctions; Long-Term
Care Services Fund. Requires nursing homes to meet a baseline
staffing level based on resident acuity in alignment with the Centers
for Medicare and Medicaid Services staffing level recommendations.
The bill requires nursing homes to collect and submit to the Department
of Health certain data related to staffing. The bill gives the Commissioner
of Health the power to impose administrative sanctions on nursing
homes and directs the Board of Health to promulgate regulations related
to the criteria and procedures for imposition of administrative sanctions
or initiation of court proceedings for violations of the bill. The
bill provides that nursing homes shall only be subject to administrative
sanctions upon initial funding for the state share of the cost to
implement the provisions of the bill. The bill establishes the Long-Term
Care Services Fund for the purpose of making grants to assist in
the provision of activities that protect or improve the quality of
care or quality of life for residents, patients, and consumers of
long-term care services.