EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDE D TO EXISTING LAW .
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
*sb0531*
SENATE BILL 531
J3 2lr2069
CF HB 636
By: Senators Beidle, Augustine, Eckardt, Hayes, and Washington
Introduced and read first time: January 28, 2022
Assigned to: Finance
Committee Report: Favorable
Senate action: Adopted
Read second time: February 21, 2022
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Maryland Health Care Commission – Assisted Living Programs – Study 2
FOR the purpose of requiring the Maryland Health Care Commission, in consultation with 3
the Office of Health Care Quality, the Maryland Long–Term Care Ombudsman 4
Program, the Medicaid Administration, the Governor’s Workforce Development 5
Board, and interested stakeholders, to conduct a study regarding the quality of care 6
provided by certain assisted living programs; and generally relating to a study of 7
assisted living programs. 8
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 9
That: 10
(a) The Maryland Health Care Commission, in consultation with the Office of 11
Health Care Quality, the Maryland Long–Term Care Ombudsman Program, the Medicaid 12
Administration, the Governor’s Workforce Development Board, and interested 13
stakeholders, shall conduct a study regarding the quality of care provided by assisted living 14
programs with nine or fewer beds. 15
(b) In conducting the study required under subsection (a) of this section, the 16
Commission shall: 17
(1) analyze the inspection data from the Office of Health Care Quality to 18
determine, on a systemic level, where quality of care may be improved; 19
2 SENATE BILL 531
(2) examine the entry into and exit from the market for assisted living 1
programs, including any noticeable trends related to inspection data or regulatory 2
requirements; 3
(3) consider the feasibility of developing a reporting system for assisted 4
living programs that protects patient confidentiality and makes data related to catastrophic 5
health emergencies declared by the Governor and quality of care publicly available; 6
(4) review the current assisted living program licensure regulations to 7
determine whether these programs should be regulated differently than programs with ten 8
or more beds; 9
(5) determine whether: 10
(i) assisted living programs receive sufficient reimbursement to 11
cover the cost of care for the services provided, including for residents with Alzheimer’s and 12
other dementia–related conditions, under initiatives offered through the Maryland 13
Medicaid Administration or other State or local initiatives; and 14
(ii) the Home– and Community–Based Options Waiver, or any other 15
waiver program that may be used for assisted living programs, can be revised to improve 16
the quality of care and increase provider participation; and 17
(6) review staffing resources that could be better utilized and made 18
available for these programs, including measures to encourage the recruitment and 19
retention of staff and meet standards for sufficient staffing. 20
(c) On or before October 1, 2023, the Maryland Health Care Commission shall 21
report its findings and recommendations, including any draft legislation, to the Governor, 22
the Maryland Department of Health, and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State 23
Government Article, the Senate Finance Committee and the House Health and 24
Government Operations Committee. 25
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 26
October 1, 2022. 27