An Act Concerning Charges For Vacant Nursing Home Beds.
If enacted, SB00450 would have significant implications for state healthcare legislation, particularly concerning the costs borne by patients in nursing home care. By eliminating the potential for double billing, the bill aims to alleviate some financial pressure on vulnerable populations, including the elderly and those with limited financial resources who rely on medical assistance. This change could make nursing home services more accessible for patients in need and ease the financial strain during hospital admissions.
SB00450, introduced in 2017 by Senator Doyle, seeks to amend existing laws regarding the charges associated with reserving vacant nursing home beds for patients who are under medical assistance and hospitalized. Specifically, the bill proposes reducing the fees that can be charged for maintaining these beds when the patient is hospitalized for a maximum duration of seven days. The goal of this legislation is to address the burden of double billing that patients may face when they are required to pay for both the vacant bed in a nursing home and their hospital stay simultaneously.
Discussion around SB00450 may include concerns about how such changes could affect nursing homes financially. Critics might argue that reducing fees for vacant beds could jeopardize the financial stability of nursing facilities, especially those heavily reliant on revenue from such charges. Proponents, however, emphasize that the bill addresses a critical issue facing patients, advocating for more humane and fair treatment in healthcare billing practices.