Authorizes patients to designate an essential visitor who may assist the patient and perform certain duties on behalf of the patient, including communicating with facility staff regarding the needs of the patient, providing emotional stability and company, and requesting additional care or a change in the care plan.
Requires certain notices, procedures and approvals prior to the sale or closure of a coal electric generation facility; requires extensive health screening of all employees contractors and subcontractors working at such plant, requires a retraining program for affected employees of mass layoffs.
Requires the department of health to conduct 40% of its inspections on nursing homes outside of business hours; requires department of health inspections of nursing homes to be conducted without prior notice to a nursing home; requires an annual nursing home inspection report.