SECTION 1. Chapter 111 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting the following new section after section 72BB:

Section 72CC.The department, through its division of health care facility licensure and certification, shall establish and implement a prescribed process and program for providing training and education to providers licensed by the department. The department shall consult with the industry trade associations, before requiring any new regulatory guidance, regulation, interpretation, program letter or memorandum, or any other materials used in surveyor training to survey licensed providers.

The process, training, and education shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

(1) annual training for long term care facilities on the licensure and certification process. This training shall include, but not be limited to, the department’s interpretation of the general laws, rules, regulations, procedures, and policies concerning the licensure and certification process for such long-term care facilities;

(2) biannual training of long-term care providers on the most frequently cited deficiencies, identified deficiency trends, both state and federal, and best practices to ensure resident quality of care; and

(3) training of long-term care providers and the department survey inspectors jointly on the department's new expectations; and

Trainings shall be interactive, with the sharing of information and recommendations between long term care facilities and the department on issues and topics.