SENATE DOCKET, NO. 454        FILED ON: 1/16/2013

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 287

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Harriette L. Chandler

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act to standardize the regulation of skilled nursing facilities.

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PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Harriette L. Chandler

First Worcester

Gale D. Candaras

First Hampden and Hampshire

Michael R. Knapik

Second Hampden and Hampshire

Sal N. DiDomenico

Middlesex and Suffolk

James T. Welch

Hampden

James B. Eldridge

Middlesex and Worcester

Denise Andrews

2nd Franklin

Denise Provost

27th Middlesex

Thomas P. Conroy

13th Middlesex

Barry R. Finegold

Second Essex and Middlesex


SENATE DOCKET, NO. 454        FILED ON: 1/16/2013

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 287

By Ms. Chandler, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 287) of Harriette L. Chandler, Gale D. Candaras, Michael R. Knapik, Sal N. DiDomenico and other members of the General Court for legislation relative to the regulation of skilled nursing facilities.  Elder Affairs.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the Year Two Thousand Thirteen

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An Act to standardize the regulation of skilled nursing facilities.

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1:  The Department of Public Health shall amend the Licensure Procedure and Suitability Requirements for Long-Term Care Facilities in Massachusetts regulations (105 CMR 153).  Such amendment shall establish a formal and open public hearing process that would precede approval of and allow for public input on any application for a license, notice of intent for transfer of ownership or notice of intent to sell or close any skilled nursing facility whether for-profit or non-profit.

SECTION 2:  The Department of Public Health, the Center for Health Information & Analysis, the Office of Elder Affairs, the Office of Medicaid and the Office of the Attorney General shall work together with all interested stakeholders to review and develop policy recommendations for improvements to the licensing of long term care facilities in the Commonwealth (105 CMR 150; 105 CMR 153), regulations concerning standard payments and cost reporting by nursing facilities (114.2 CMR 600) and the requirements for the provision of nursing-facility services under MassHealth (130 CMR 456).  Such recommendations shall include proposed amendments to these regulations to:

Provide more transparent, timely and complete public access to information concerning skilled nursing facility licensing, reimbursement and quality care standards; and

Improve the regulation and public reporting of information concerning transfers of licenses for, new ownership of, and the closure of skilled nursing facility licenses; and

Otherwise enhance the regulation of skilled nursing facilities in the Commonwealth.