LCO 3532 \\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2023HB-06386-R02- HB.docx 1 of 4 General Assembly Committee Bill No. 6386 January Session, 2023 LCO No. 3532 Referred to Committee on HUMAN SERVICES Introduced by: (HS) AN ACT CONCERNING SAFEGUARDING THE RIGHTS, HEALTH, FINANCES AND QUALITY OF LIFE OF NURSING HOME RESIDENTS. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened: Section 1. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2023) The Commissioner of Social 1 Services shall ensure that the Department of Social Services (1) renders 2 a final decision on a Medicaid applicant's eligibility promptly and 3 without undue delay in accordance with section 17b-80 of the general 4 statutes, and (2) provides written notice to such applicant of the 5 department's final decision not later than fifteen calendar days after 6 such decision is rendered. 7 Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2023) For purposes of this section (1) 8 "nursing home facility" means a chronic and convalescent nursing 9 home and a rest home with nursing supervision, and (2) "action to 10 recover costs" includes, but is not limited to, placing a lien on real 11 property of a Medicaid applicant. A nursing home facility shall not 12 take any action to recover costs from a Medicaid applicant residing in 13 such facility until a final decision has been rendered by the 14 Department of Social Services on such applicant's Medicaid eligibility 15 and such applicant has exhausted all appeal rights pursuant to sections 16 Committee Bill No. 6386 LCO 3532 {\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2023HB-06386- R02-HB.docx } 2 of 4 17b-60 and 17b-61 of the general statutes. 17 Sec. 3. Subsection (a) of section 17b-340e of the general statutes is 18 repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 19 1, 2023): 20 (a) In addition to any applicable recoupment or rate decrease 21 pursuant to any other provision of the general statutes, a nursing home 22 facility that receives a rate increase for wage enhancements for facility 23 employees may also be assessed a civil penalty if the facility fails to use 24 the rate increase for that purpose. The Department of Social Services 25 may assess a civil penalty upon completion of a department audit 26 conducted in accordance with the nursing home facility's Medicaid 27 provider enrollment agreements. The civil penalty assessed pursuant 28 to this section shall not exceed an amount greater than [fifty] seventy-29 five per cent of the total dollar amount of the rate increase received by 30 the nursing home facility but not used for wage enhancements for 31 facility employees. 32 Sec. 4. Subsection (a) of section 19a-494 of the general statutes is 33 repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 34 1, 2023): 35 (a) The Commissioner of Public Health, after a hearing held in 36 accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, may take any of the 37 following actions, singly or in combination, in any case in which the 38 commissioner finds that there has been a substantial failure to comply 39 with the requirements established under this chapter, the Public 40 Health Code or licensing regulations: 41 (1) Revoke a license or certificate; 42 (2) Suspend a license or certificate; 43 (3) Censure a licensee or certificate holder; 44 (4) Issue a letter of reprimand to a licensee or certificate holder; 45 Committee Bill No. 6386 LCO 3532 {\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2023HB-06386- R02-HB.docx } 3 of 4 (5) Place a licensee or certificate holder on probationary status and 46 require him to report regularly to the department on the matters which 47 are the basis of the probation; 48 (6) Restrict the acquisition of other facilities for a period of time set 49 by the commissioner; 50 (7) Issue an order compelling compliance with applicable statutes or 51 regulations of the department; [or] 52 (8) Assess a civil penalty against a licensee or certificate holder; or 53 [(8)] (9) Impose a directed plan of correction. 54 Sec. 5. Subsection (a) of section 19a-562h of the general statutes is 55 repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 56 1, 2023): 57 (a) If the Commissioner of Public Health finds that a nursing home 58 facility has substantially failed to comply with a nursing home facility 59 staffing level requirement established pursuant to the regulations of 60 Connecticut state agencies, the commissioner may (1) take any 61 disciplinary action against the nursing home facility permitted under 62 section 19a-494, as amended by this act, including, but not limited to, 63 assessing a civil penalty against the licensee of such nursing home 64 facility, and (2) issue or cause to be issued a citation to the licensee of 65 such nursing home facility pursuant to the provisions of section 19a-66 524. 67 This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections: Section 1 July 1, 2023 New section Sec. 2 July 1, 2023 New section Sec. 3 July 1, 2023 17b-340e(a) Sec. 4 July 1, 2023 19a-494(a) Sec. 5 July 1, 2023 19a-562h(a) Committee Bill No. 6386 LCO 3532 {\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2023HB-06386- R02-HB.docx } 4 of 4 HS Joint Favorable C/R APP