Budget Amendment ID: FY2021-S4-296

EHS 296

Preventing COVID-19 Outbreaks in Long-Term Care Facilities

Messrs. Montigny, O'Connor, Eldridge, Moore and Velis moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section XX the following section:-

“SECTION XX.  Not less than seven days from the effective date of this act, the department of public health shall amend its memorandum dated October 5, 2020 regarding COVID-19 long term care surveillance testing to ensure long term care providers conduct weekly testing of all staff so long as the county positivity rate in which the long term care provider is located is at or above two percent as a 14-day rolling average. Such testing shall be required irrespective of whether there are known positive COVID-19 staff members or residents.”; and

by inserting after section XX the following section:-

“SECTION XX.  The executive office of health and human services shall amend its Nursing Facility Bulletin 145, dated April 2020, to include infection control policies regarding incoming nursing facilities admissions during the COVID-19 state of emergency.  In addition to existing competencies, said infection control policies shall include a core competency requirement that all admissions into a facility are quarantined for a minimum of 48 hours and receive a negative COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction test result prior to any contact with other residents or staff not dedicated to the direct care for known COVID-19 positive residents.  All staff caring for said admissions shall utilize full personal protective equipment and other appropriate infection control measures necessary while awaiting test results.”; and

by inserting after section XX the following section:-

“SECTION XX.  Chapter 64 of the acts of 2020 is hereby further amended, in section 1, by striking the definition of “health care facility” and inserting in place thereof the following new definition:-

“Health care facility”, (i) hospitals, including acute and chronic disease rehabilitation hospitals, as licensed under section 51 of chapter 111 of the General Laws; (ii) state hospitals, mental health centers and other mental health facilities under the control of the department of mental health pursuant to section 7 of chapter 19 of the General Laws; (iii) hospitals operated by the department of public health pursuant to section 62I of chapter 111 the General Laws, section 69E of said chapter 111 and chapter 122 of the General Laws; (iv) psychiatric hospitals, as licensed under section 19 of said chapter 19; (v) community health centers, as defined in 130 CMR 405.000 and mental health centers, as defined in 130 CMR 429.000; (vi) home health agencies that participate in Medicare; (vii) clinics, as licensed under said section 51 of said chapter 111; or (viii) sites designated by the commissioner of public health to provide COVID-19 health care services, including, but not limited to, step-down skilled nursing facilities, field hospitals and hotels.”