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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2352 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 627
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Denise C. Garlick
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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 promoting the betterment of resident health and safety in long term care facilities.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Denise C. Garlick13th Norfolk1/17/2023Rodney M. Elliott16th Middlesex2/23/2023Mathew J. Muratore1st Plymouth2/23/2023David Henry Argosky LeBoeuf17th Worcester2/23/2023Lindsay N. Sabadosa1st Hampshire2/23/2023Paul McMurtry11th Norfolk2/23/2023James C. Arena-DeRosa8th Middlesex3/1/2023Natalie M. Higgins4th Worcester3/1/2023David Paul Linsky5th Middlesex3/1/2023William C. Galvin6th Norfolk3/1/2023Russell E. Holmes6th Suffolk3/7/2023Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr.12th Hampden3/7/2023Kimberly N. Ferguson1st Worcester3/7/2023Edward R. Philips8th Norfolk3/7/2023William J. Driscoll, Jr.7th Norfolk3/7/2023 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2352 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 627
By Representative Garlick of Needham, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 627) of
Denise C. Garlick and others that the Division of Health Care Facility Licensure and
Certification be authorized to establish a program for training and education for certain licensed
providers. Elder Affairs.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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An Act promoting the betterment of resident health and safety in long term care facilities.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Chapter 111 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after
2section 72BB the following section:
3 Section 72CC.The department, through its division of health care facility licensure and
4certification, shall establish and implement a prescribed process and program for providing
5training and education to long term care providers licensed by the department under section 72.
6The training and education programs may include: infection prevention and control;
7development, implementation, adherence and review of comprehensive resident care plans; falls
8prevention; procedures to ensure timely notification of changes in a resident’s condition to the
9resident’s primary care physician; the prevention of abuse and neglect; development and
10implementation of a program to minimize the danger of workplace violence to employees; and
11review of the survey and inspection process. The department shall consult with the industry trade
12associations, before requiring any new regulatory guidance, regulation, interpretation, program 2 of 2
13letter or memorandum or any other materials used in surveyor training to survey licensed
14providers.
15 The process, training, and education shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
16 (i) annual training for long term care facilities on the licensure and certification process.
17This training shall include, but not be limited to, the department’s interpretation of the general
18laws, rules, regulations, procedures and policies concerning the licensure and certification
19process for such long-term care facilities;
20 (ii) biannual training of long-term care providers on the most frequently cited
21deficiencies, identified deficiency trends, both state and federal, and best practices to ensure
22resident quality of care; and
23 (iii) training of long-term care providers and the department survey inspectors jointly on
24the department's new expectations.
25 Trainings shall be interactive, with the sharing of information and recommendations
26between long term care facilities and the department on issues and topics.