CHAPTER 368v
HEALTH CARE INSTITUTIONS

      Sec. 19a-487. Mobile field hospital: Defined, board of directors. (a) "Mobile field hospital" means a modular, transportable facility used intermittently, deployed at the discretion of the Governor, or the Governor's designee, (1) for the provision of medical services at a mass gathering; (2) for the purpose of training or in the event of a public health or other emergency for isolation care purposes or triage and treatment during a mass-casualty event; or (3) for providing surge capacity for a hospital during a mass-casualty event or infrastructure failure.

      (b) There is established a board of directors to advise the Department of Public Health on the operations of the mobile field hospital. The board shall consist of the following members: The Commissioners of Public Health, Emergency Services and Public Protection and Social Services, or their designees, the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, or the secretary's designee, the Adjutant General, or the Adjutant General's designee, one representative of a hospital in this state with more than five hundred licensed beds and one representative of a hospital in this state with five hundred or fewer licensed beds, both appointed by the Commissioner of Public Health. The Commissioner of Public Health shall be the chairperson of the board. The board shall adopt bylaws and shall meet at such times as specified in such bylaws and at such other times as the Commissioner of Public Health deems necessary.

      (c) The board shall advise the department on matters, including, but not limited to: Operating policies and procedures; facility deployment and operation; appropriate utilization of the facility; clinical programs and delivery of patient health care services; hospital staffing patterns and staff-to-patient ratios; human resources policies; standards and accreditation guidelines; credentialing of clinical and support staff; patient admission, transfer and discharge policies and procedures; quality assurance and performance improvement; patient rates and billing and reimbursement mechanisms; staff education and training requirements and alternative facility uses.

      (P.A. 05-280, S. 57; P.A. 07-252, S. 65; P.A. 10-117, S. 33; P.A. 11-51, S. 158.)

      History: P.A. 05-280 effective July 1, 2005; P.A. 07-252 amended Subsec. (a) by substituting "mobile field hospital" for "critical access hospital", effective July 12, 2007; P.A. 10-117 added new Subsec. (a) defining "mobile field hospital" and redesignated existing Subsecs. (a) and (b) as Subsecs. (b) and (c); P.A. 11-51 amended Subsec. (b) by replacing reference to Commissioner of Emergency Management and Homeland Security and Commissioner of Public Safety with reference to Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection, effective July 1, 2011.

      Sec. 19a-490k. Administration of care and vaccinations to patients by hospital without physician's order. Permitted activities. Regulations. (a) A hospital may administer care to patients, after an assessment of contraindications, without a physician's order, in accordance with a physician-approved hospital policy, if such care is emergent, timely and necessary, or for the purpose of advancing patient care, to the extent such care is permitted by 42 CFR Part 482.

      (b) A hospital may administer any prophylactic care or treatment to healthy newborns who are born at the hospital, or who are admitted to the hospital nursery, after an assessment of contraindications, without a physician's order, in accordance with a physician-approved hospital policy, to the extent such care or treatment is permitted by 42 CFR Part 482.

      (c) A hospital may administer influenza and pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccines to patients, after an assessment for contraindications, without a physician's order, in accordance with a physician-approved hospital policy. The Commissioner of Public Health shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to carry out the provisions of this subsection.

      (P.A. 04-164, S. 4; P.A. 11-2, S. 1; 11-242, S. 78.)

      History: P.A. 04-164 effective July 1, 2004; P.A. 11-2 added Subsec. (a) re administration of emergent care to patients without physician's order, added Subsec. (b) re administration of prophylactic care or treatment to healthy newborns without physician's order and designated existing provisions as Subsec. (c) and made technical changes to same; P.A. 11-242 changed effective date of P.A. 11-2, S. 1, from October 1, 2011, to July 1, 2011, effective July 13, 2011.

      Sec. 19a-490q. Health care employer: Work place safety committee; risk assessment; workplace violence prevention and response plan; adjustment to patient care assignment. Regulations. (a) As used in this section and sections 19a-490r, 19a-490s and 53a-167c:

      (1) "Health care employer" means any institution, as defined in section 19a-490, with fifty or more full or part-time employees. "Health care employer" includes a facility for the care or treatment of mentally ill persons or persons with substance abuse issues, a residential facility for persons with intellectual disability licensed pursuant to section 17a-227, and a community health center, as defined in section 19a-490a; and

      (2) "Health care employee" means any individual directly or indirectly employed by, or serving as a volunteer for, a health care employer, who (A) is involved in direct patient care, or (B) has direct contact with the patient or the patient's family when (i) collecting or processing information needed for patient forms and record documentation, or (ii) escorting or directing the patient or the patient's family on the premises of the health care employer.

      (b) On or before October 1, 2011, each health care employer shall establish and convene an ongoing workplace safety committee to address issues related to the health and safety of health care employees. A health care employer's workplace safety committee shall be composed of representatives from the administration; physician, nursing and other direct patient care staff; security personnel; and any other staff deemed appropriate by the health care employer. Not less than fifty per cent of the committee membership shall be composed of nonmanagement employees. The committee shall select a chairperson from among its membership. The committee shall meet not less than quarterly and shall make available meeting minutes and other records from its proceedings to all employees.

      (c) On or before October 1, 2011, and annually thereafter, each health care employer shall undertake a risk assessment of the factors that put any health care employee at risk for being a victim of workplace violence. Based on the findings of the risk assessment, on or before January 1, 2012, and on or before each January first thereafter, each health care employer, in collaboration with the workplace safety committee, shall develop and implement a written workplace violence prevention and response plan. A hospital, as defined in section 19a-490, may utilize an existing committee established by such hospital to assist in the preparation of the plan, provided not less than fifty per cent of the membership of such existing committee are nonmanagement employees. In developing the plan, the health care employer may consider any guidance on workplace violence issued by any government agency, including the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Department of Public Health and the Labor Department, and any hospital accrediting organizations.

      (d) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (c) of this section, a health care employer may satisfy the requirements for the establishment of a written workplace violence prevention and response plan by utilizing existing policies, plans or procedures if, after undertaking the risk assessment, the health care employer, in consultation with the workplace safety committee, determines that such employer's existing policies, plans or procedures are sufficient.

      (e) A health care employer shall, to the extent practicable, adjust patient care assignments so that no health care employee who requests an adjustment to his or her patient care assignment is required to treat or provide services to a patient who the employer knows to have intentionally physically abused or threatened the employee. When adjusting patient care assignments, a health care employer shall give due consideration to the employer's obligation to meet the needs of all patients. Patient behavior that is a direct manifestation of the patient's condition or disability, including physical abuse or threatening behavior, shall not be considered intentional physical abuse or threatening of an employee. In situations where a health care employer has determined that an adjustment to a health care employee's patient care assignment is not practicable, any health care employee who has been physically abused or threatened by a patient may request of the employer that a second health care employee be present when treating such patient.

      (f) The Labor Commissioner may adopt regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 necessary to carry out the purposes of this section.

      (P.A. 11-175, S. 1.)

      History: P.A. 11-175 effective July 1, 2011.

      Sec. 19a-490r. Health care employer: Records and report re incidents of workplace violence. A health care employer shall maintain records which detail incidents of workplace violence and include the specific area or department of the employer's premises where the incident occurred. A health care employer, upon the request of the Department of Public Health, shall report to the department the number of workplace violence incidents occurring on the employer's premises and the specific area or department where such incidents occurred.

      (P.A. 11-175, S. 2.)

      Sec. 19a-490s. Health care employer: Report of assault or related offense to local law enforcement agency. Except as provided in this section, a health care employer shall report to such employer's local law enforcement agency any act which may constitute an assault or related offense, as described in part V of chapter 952, against a health care employee acting in the performance of his or her duties. A health care employer shall make such report not later than twenty-four hours after the occurrence of the act. The health care employer shall provide the names and addresses of those involved with such act to the local law enforcement agency. A health care employer shall not be required to report any act which may constitute assault or a related offense if the act was committed by a person with a disability as described in subdivision (13), (15) or (20) of section 46a-51 whose conduct is a clear and direct manifestation of the disability.

      (P.A. 11-175, S. 3.)

      Sec. 19a-491. (Formerly Sec. 19-577). License and certificate required. Application. Assessment of civil penalties or a consent order. Fees. Minimum service quality standards. Regulations. (a) No person acting individually or jointly with any other person shall establish, conduct, operate or maintain an institution in this state without a license as required by this chapter, except for persons issued a license by the Commissioner of Children and Families pursuant to section 17a-145 for the operation of (1) a substance abuse treatment facility, or (2) a facility for the purpose of caring for women during pregnancies and for women and their infants following such pregnancies. Application for such license shall be made to the Department of Public Health upon forms provided by it and shall contain such information as the department requires, which may include affirmative evidence of ability to comply with reasonable standards and regulations prescribed under the provisions of this chapter. The commissioner may require as a condition of licensure that an applicant sign a consent order providing reasonable assurances of compliance with the Public Health Code. The commissioner may issue more than one chronic disease hospital license to a single institution until such time as the state offers a rehabilitation hospital license.

      (b) If any person acting individually or jointly with any other person owns real property or any improvements thereon, upon or within which an institution, as defined in subsection (c) of section 19a-490, is established, conducted, operated or maintained and is not the licensee of the institution, such person shall submit a copy of the lease agreement to the department at the time of any change of ownership and with each license renewal application. The lease agreement shall, at a minimum, identify the person or entity responsible for the maintenance and repair of all buildings and structures within which such an institution is established, conducted or operated. If a violation is found as a result of an inspection or investigation, the commissioner may require the owner to sign a consent order providing assurances that repairs or improvements necessary for compliance with the provisions of the Public Health Code shall be completed within a specified period of time or may assess a civil penalty of not more than one thousand dollars for each day that such owner is in violation of the Public Health Code or a consent order. A consent order may include a provision for the establishment of a temporary manager of such real property who has the authority to complete any repairs or improvements required by such order. Upon request of the Commissioner of Public Health, the Attorney General may petition the Superior Court for such equitable and injunctive relief as such court deems appropriate to ensure compliance with the provisions of a consent order. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to any property or improvements owned by a person licensed in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of this section to establish, conduct, operate or maintain an institution on or within such property or improvements.

      (c) Notwithstanding any regulation to the contrary, the Commissioner of Public Health shall charge the following fees for the biennial licensing and inspection of the following institutions: (1) Chronic and convalescent nursing homes, per site, four hundred forty dollars; (2) chronic and convalescent nursing homes, per bed, five dollars; (3) rest homes with nursing supervision, per site, four hundred forty dollars; (4) rest homes with nursing supervision, per bed, five dollars; (5) outpatient dialysis units and outpatient surgical facilities, six hundred twenty-five dollars; (6) mental health residential facilities, per site, three hundred seventy-five dollars; (7) mental health residential facilities, per bed, five dollars; (8) hospitals, per site, nine hundred forty dollars; (9) hospitals, per bed, seven dollars and fifty cents; (10) nonstate agency educational institutions, per infirmary, one hundred fifty dollars; and (11) nonstate agency educational institutions, per infirmary bed, twenty-five dollars.

      (d) Notwithstanding any regulation, the commissioner shall charge the following fees for the triennial licensing and inspection of the following institutions: (1) Residential care homes, per site, five hundred sixty-five dollars; and (2) residential care homes, per bed, four dollars and fifty cents.

      (e) The commissioner shall charge one thousand dollars for the licensing and inspection every four years of outpatient clinics that provide either medical or mental health service, and well-child clinics, except those operated by municipal health departments, health districts or licensed nonprofit nursing or community health agencies.

      (f) The commissioner shall charge a fee of five hundred sixty-five dollars for the technical assistance provided for the design, review and development of an institution's construction, sale or change in ownership.

      (g) The commissioner may require as a condition of the licensure of home health care agencies and homemaker-home health aide agencies that each agency meet minimum service quality standards. In the event the commissioner requires such agencies to meet minimum service quality standards as a condition of their licensure, the commissioner shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to define such minimum service quality standards, which shall (1) allow for training of homemaker-home health aides by adult continuing education, (2) require a registered nurse to visit and assess each patient receiving homemaker-home health aide services as often as necessary based on the patient's condition, but not less than once every sixty days, and (3) require the assessment prescribed by subdivision (2) of this subsection to be completed while the homemaker-home health aide is providing services in the patient's home.

      (1953, 1955, S. 2052d; P.A. 77-601, S. 9, 11; 77-614, S. 323, 610; P.A. 79-610, S. 23; P.A. 80-127, S. 1; P.A. 84-546, S. 167, 173; P.A. 85-588, S. 1; P.A. 89-350, S. 6; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-6, S. 14, 117; P.A. 93-74, S. 44, 67; 93-201, S. 9, 24; 93-381, S. 9, 39; 93-415, S. 9; P.A. 94-196, S. 1, 2; P.A. 95-160, S. 12, 69; 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 96-139, S. 12, 13; P.A. 97-112, S. 2; 97-297; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-3, S. 28; P.A. 05-64, S. 1; P.A. 09-197, S. 1; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3, S. 177; P.A. 10-117, S. 10; P.A. 11-242, S. 28.)

      History: Sec. 19-33 transferred to Sec. 19-577 in 1977; P.A. 77-601 added exception re continued operation of certain facilities in operation as of January 1, 1979; P.A. 77-614 replaced department of health with department of health services, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 79-610 added Subsec. (b) re validity of certain licenses issued before October 1, 1979; P.A. 80-127 added Subsec. (c) re certificate of compliance with public health code; Sec. 19-577 transferred to Sec. 19a-491 in 1983; P.A. 84-546 made technical change to Subsec. (a), deleting obsolete provision re home health care agency, homemaker-home health aide agency or coordination, assessment and monitoring agency in operation on January 1, 1979; P.A. 85-588 added Subsec. (d) to include in the definition of "institution" any person or agency who advertises, arranges or provides homemaker-home health aides or services in a patient's home; P.A. 89-350 added the language on consent orders, deleted former Subsec. (b) re period of validity for licenses and renewal and relettered the remaining Subsecs. and changed "annually" to "biennially" in Subsec. (b); May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-6 added new Subsec. (d) to establish fees for biennial licensing and inspection of chronic and convalescent nursing homes, rest homes with nursing supervision, homes for the aged, ambulatory facilities, mental health residential facilities, hospitals, nonstate agency educational facilities and for technical assistance for design, review and development; P.A. 93-74 amended Subsec. (d) by exempting municipal health departments, health districts or licensed nursing or community health and well-child clinics from the biennial licensing and inspection fees, by reducing educational institution infirmary fee from $500 to $75 and by instituting a per-bed charge of $25, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 93-201 amended Subsec. (d)(13) to add "infirmary", effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 93-381 replaced department and commissioner of health services with department and commissioner of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 93-415 added Subsec. (e) authorizing commissioner to develop minimum service quality standards; P.A. 94-196 amended Subsec. (a) to authorize issuance of more than one chronic disease hospital license to a single institution until the state offers a rehabilitation hospital license, effective June 9, 1994 (Revisor's note: In 1995 the words "said chapter and sections" were replaced editorially by the Revisors with "this chapter"); P.A. 95-160 amended Subsec. (e) by deleting a reference to coordination, assessment and monitoring agencies and made a technical change, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 96-139 changed effective date of P.A. 95-160 but without affecting this section; P.A. 97-112 replaced "homes for the aged" with "residential care homes"; P.A. 97-297 amended Subsec. (e) to add provision re training of homemaker-home health care aides by continuing education; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-3 amended Subsec. (b) by requiring submittal of a lease agreement and deleting provisions re biennial issuance of certificate of compliance with Public Health Code, deleted former Subsec. (c) defining "institution", redesignating existing Subsec. (d) as new Subsec. (c) and adding licensing and inspection requirement for outpatient dialysis units and outpatient surgical facilities, deleting references to residential care homes and ambulatory facilities and deleting provision re technical assistance fee, added new Subsec. (d) to change license renewal for residential care homes from biennially to triennially and to increase fees from $300 per site and $3 per bed to $450 per site and $4.50 per bed, added new Subsec. (e) to require license renewal and inspection with fees every four years for outpatient clinics and maternity homes, added new Subsec. (f) re technical assistance fee, redesignated existing Subsec. (e) as new Subsec. (g) and made technical changes, effective January 1, 2004; P.A. 05-64 amended Subsec. (g) by designating existing language re regulations allowing for training as Subdiv. (1), making technical changes and adding new Subdivs. (1) and (2) re additional requirements for regulations establishing minimum service quality standards, effective June 2, 2005; P.A. 09-197 amended Subsec. (a) by adding exception for certain facilities licensed by the Commissioner of Children and Families, effective July 1, 2009; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3 amended Subsecs. (c), (d) and (f) to increase fees; P.A. 10-117 amended Subsec. (b) to make a technical change and add provisions permitting commissioner to assess civil penalty of not more than $1,000 per day against an owner who is in violation of Public Health Code or consent order and providing that consent order may include establishment of temporary manager and that Attorney General may petition Superior Court to ensure compliance with consent order; P.A. 11-242 amended Subsec. (e) by deleting former Subdivs. (2) and (3) re license fees for maternity homes on a per site and per bed basis and by making technical changes.

      Sec. 19a-491c. Criminal history and patient abuse background search program. Regulations. (a) As used in this section:

      (1) "Criminal history and patient abuse background search" or "background search" means (A) a review of the registry of nurse's aides maintained by the Department of Public Health pursuant to section 20-102bb, (B) checks of state and national criminal history records conducted in accordance with section 29-17a, and (C) a review of any other registry specified by the Department of Public Health which the department deems necessary for the administration of a background search program.

      (2) "Direct access" means physical access to a patient or resident of a long-term care facility that affords an individual with the opportunity to commit abuse or neglect against or misappropriate the property of a patient or resident.

      (3) "Disqualifying offense" means a conviction of any crime described in 42 USC 1320a-7(a)(1), (2), (3) or (4) or a substantiated finding of neglect, abuse or misappropriation of property by a state or federal agency pursuant to an investigation conducted in accordance with 42 USC 1395i-3(g)(1)(C) or 42 USC 1396r(g)(1)(C).

      (4) "Long-term care facility" means any facility, agency or provider that is a nursing home, as defined in section 19a-521, a home health agency, as defined in section 19a-490, an assisted living services agency, as defined in section 19a-490, an intermediate care facility for the mentally retarded, as defined in 42 USC 1396d(d), a chronic disease hospital, as defined in section 19a-550, or an agency providing hospice care which is licensed to provide such care by the Department of Public Health or certified to provide such care pursuant to 42 USC 1395x.

      (b) (1) On or before July 1, 2012, the Department of Public Health shall create and implement a criminal history and patient abuse background search program, within available appropriations, in order to facilitate the performance, processing and analysis of the criminal history and patient abuse background search of individuals who have direct access.

      (2) The Department of Public Health shall develop a plan to implement the criminal history and patient abuse background search program, in accordance with this section. In developing such plan, the department shall (A) consult with the Commissioners of Emergency Services and Public Protection, Developmental Services, Mental Health and Addiction Services, Social Services and Consumer Protection, or their designees, the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman, or a designee, the chairperson for the Board of Pardons and Paroles, or a designee, a representative of each category of long-term care facility and representatives from any other agency or organization the Commissioner of Public Health deems appropriate, (B) evaluate factors including, but not limited to, the administrative and fiscal impact of components of the program on state agencies and long-term care facilities, background check procedures currently used by long-term care facilities, federal requirements pursuant to Section 6201 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, P.L. 111-148, as amended from time to time, and the effect of full and provisional pardons on employment, and (C) outline (i) an integrated process with the Department of Public Safety to cross-check and periodically update criminal information collected in criminal databases, (ii) a process by which individuals with disqualifying offenses can apply for a waiver, and (iii) the structure of an Internet-based portal to streamline the criminal history and patient abuse background search program. The Department of Public Health shall submit such plan, including a recommendation as to whether homemaker-companion agencies should be included in the scope of the background search program, to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to aging, appropriations and the budgets of state agencies, and public health, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, not later than February 1, 2012.

      (c) (1) Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, each long-term care facility, prior to extending an offer of employment to or entering into a contract for the provision of long-term care services with any individual who will have direct access, or prior to allowing any individual to have direct access while volunteering at such long-term care facility, shall require that such individual submit to a background search. The Department of Public Health shall prescribe the manner by which (A) long-term care facilities perform the review of (i) the registry of nurse's aides maintained by the department pursuant to section 20-102bb, and (ii) any other registry specified by the department, including requiring long-term care facilities to report the results of such review to the department, and (B) individuals submit to state and national criminal history records checks, including requiring the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection to report the results of such checks to the Department of Public Health.

      (2) No long-term care facility shall be required to comply with the provisions of this subsection if the individual provides evidence to the long-term care facility that such individual submitted to a background search conducted pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection not more than three years immediately preceding the date such individual applies for employment, seeks to enter into a contract or begins volunteering with the long-term care facility and that the prior background search confirmed that the individual did not have a disqualifying offense.

      (d) (1) The Department of Public Health shall review all reports provided to the department pursuant to subsection (c) of this section. If any such report contains evidence indicating that an individual has a disqualifying offense, the department shall provide notice to the individual and the long-term care facility indicating the disqualifying offense and providing the individual with the opportunity to file a request for a waiver pursuant to subdivisions (2) and (3) of this subsection.

      (2) An individual may file a written request for a waiver with the department not later than thirty days after the date the department mails notice to the individual pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection. The department shall mail a written determination indicating whether the department shall grant a waiver pursuant to subdivision (3) of this subsection not later than fifteen business days after the department receives the written request from the individual, except that said time period shall not apply to any request for a waiver in which an individual challenges the accuracy of the information obtained from the background search.

      (3) The department may grant a waiver from the provisions of subsection (e) of this section to an individual who identifies mitigating circumstances surrounding the disqualifying offense, including (A) inaccuracy in the information obtained from the background search, (B) lack of a relationship between the disqualifying offense and the position for which the individual has applied, (C) evidence that the individual has pursued or achieved rehabilitation with regard to the disqualifying offense, or (D) that substantial time has elapsed since committing the disqualifying offense. The department and its employees shall be immune from liability, civil or criminal, that might otherwise be incurred or imposed, for good faith conduct in granting waivers pursuant to this subdivision.

      (4) After completing a review pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection, the department shall notify in writing the long-term care facility to which the individual has applied for employment or with which the individual seeks to enter into a contract or volunteer (A) of any disqualifying offense and any information the individual provided to the department regarding mitigating circumstances surrounding such offense, or of the lack of a disqualifying offense, and (B) whether the department granted a waiver pursuant to subdivision (3) of this subsection.

      (e) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 46a-80, no long-term care facility shall employ an individual required to submit to a background search, contract with any such individual to provide long-term care services or allow such individual to volunteer if the long-term care facility receives notice from the department that the individual has a disqualifying offense in the individual's background search and the department has not granted a waiver pursuant to subdivision (3) of subsection (d) of this section. A long-term care facility may, but is not obligated to, employ, enter into a contract with or allow to volunteer an individual who was granted a waiver pursuant to said subdivision (3).

      (f) (1) Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, a long-term care facility shall not employ, enter into a contract with or allow to volunteer any individual required to submit to a background search until the long-term care facility receives notice from the Department of Public Health pursuant to subdivision (4) of subsection (d) of this section.

      (2) A long-term care facility may employ, enter into a contract with or allow to volunteer an individual required to submit to a background search on a conditional basis before the long-term care facility receives notice from the department that such individual does not have a disqualifying offense, provided: (A) The employment or contractual or volunteer period on a conditional basis shall last not more than sixty days, (B) the long-term care facility has begun the review required under subsection (c) of this section and the individual has submitted to checks pursuant to subsection (c) of this section, (C) the individual is subject to direct, on-site supervision during the course of such conditional employment or contractual or volunteer period, and (D) the individual, in a signed statement (i) affirms that the individual has not committed a disqualifying offense, and (ii) acknowledges that a disqualifying offense reported in the background search required by subsection (c) of this section shall constitute good cause for termination and a long-term care facility may terminate the individual if a disqualifying offense is reported in said background search.

      (g) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b) of this section, the department may phase in implementation of the criminal history and patient abuse background search program by category of long-term care facility. No long-term care facility shall be required to comply with the provisions of subsections (c), (e) and (f) of this section until the date notice is published by the Commissioner of Public Health in the Connecticut Law Journal indicating that the commissioner is implementing the criminal history and patient abuse background search program for the category of such long-term care facility.

      (h) The department shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to implement the provisions of this section. The department may implement policies and procedures consistent with the provisions of this section while in the process of adopting such policies and procedures as regulation, provided notice of intention to adopt regulations is printed in the Connecticut Law Journal not later than twenty days after the date of implementation. Such policies and procedures shall be valid until the time final regulations are effective.

      (P.A. 11-242, S. 90.)

      History: P.A. 11-242 effective January 1, 2012 (Revisor's note: In Subsec. (c)(1)(B), "Department of Public Safety" was changed editorially by the Revisors to "Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection" to conform with changes made by P.A. 11-51).

      Sec. 19a-491d. Prospective employees of home health agency to submit to comprehensive background check. Disclosure re prior disciplinary action. (a) As used in this section, "comprehensive background check" means a background investigation performed by a home health agency, as defined in subsection (k) of section 19a-490, of an applicant for employment that includes, but is not limited to: (1) A review of any application materials prepared or requested by the agency and completed by the applicant; (2) an in-person interview of the applicant; (3) verification of the applicant's Social Security number; (4) if the position applied for within the agency requires licensure on the part of the applicant, verification that the required license is in good standing; (5) a check of the registry established and maintained pursuant to section 54-257; (6) a review of criminal conviction information obtained through a search of current criminal matters of public record in this state based on the applicant's name and date of birth; (7) if the applicant has resided in this state less than three years prior to the date of the application for employment, a review of criminal conviction information from the state or states where such applicant resided during such three-year period; and (8) a review of any other information that the agency deems necessary in order to evaluate the suitability of the applicant for the position.

      (b) On or after January 1, 2012, each home health agency, prior to extending an offer of employment to an applicant for employment with the agency, shall require such applicant to submit to a comprehensive background check. In addition, each home health agency shall require that any such applicant complete and sign a form disclosing whether the applicant was subject to any decision imposing disciplinary action by a licensing agency in any state, the District of Columbia, a United States possession or territory or a foreign jurisdiction. Any applicant who makes a false statement regarding such prior disciplinary action with intent to mislead the home health agency shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor.

      (c) The provisions of this section shall cease to be effective on the date the Commissioner of Public Health publishes notice in the Connecticut Law Journal of the department's implementation of the criminal history and patient abuse background search program for home health agencies in accordance with the provisions of section 19a-491c.

      (P.A. 11-242, S. 95.)

      History: P.A. 11-242 effective January 1, 2012.

      Sec. 19a-493b. Definition of outpatient surgical facility. Licensure and exceptions. Compliance with certificate of need requirements. Dental clinics not subject to section. Waiver of certain licensure regulation requirements. (a) As used in this section and subsection (a) of section 19a-490, "outpatient surgical facility" means any entity, individual, firm, partnership, corporation, limited liability company or association, other than a hospital, engaged in providing surgical services or diagnostic procedures for human health conditions that include the use of moderate or deep sedation, moderate or deep analgesia or general anesthesia, as such levels of anesthesia are defined from time to time by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, or by such other professional or accrediting entity recognized by the Department of Public Health. An outpatient surgical facility shall not include a medical office owned and operated exclusively by a person or persons licensed pursuant to section 20-13, provided such medical office: (1) Has no operating room or designated surgical area; (2) bills no facility fees to third party payers; (3) administers no deep sedation or general anesthesia; (4) performs only minor surgical procedures incidental to the work performed in said medical office of the physician or physicians that own and operate such medical office; and (5) uses only light or moderate sedation or analgesia in connection with such incidental minor surgical procedures. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to affect any obligation to comply with the provisions of section 19a-691.

      (b) No entity, individual, firm, partnership, corporation, limited liability company or association, other than a hospital, shall individually or jointly establish or operate an outpatient surgical facility in this state without complying with chapter 368z, except as otherwise provided by this section, and obtaining a license within the time specified in this subsection from the Department of Public Health for such facility pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, unless such entity, individual, firm, partnership, corporation, limited liability company or association: (1) Provides to the Office of Health Care Access division of the Department of Public Health satisfactory evidence that it was in operation on or before July 1, 2003, or (2) obtained, on or before July 1, 2003, from the Office of Health Care Access, a determination that a certificate of need is not required. An entity, individual, firm, partnership, corporation, limited liability company or association otherwise in compliance with this section may operate an outpatient surgical facility without a license through March 30, 2007, and shall have until March 30, 2007, to obtain a license from the Department of Public Health.

      (c) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, no outpatient surgical facility shall be required to comply with section 19a-631, 19a-632, 19a-644, 19a-645, 19a-646, 19a-649, 19a-654 to 19a-660, inclusive, 19a-664 to 19a-666, inclusive, 19a-673 to 19a-676, inclusive, 19a-678, 19a-681 or 19a-683. Each outpatient surgical facility shall continue to be subject to the obligations and requirements applicable to such facility, including, but not limited to, any applicable provision of this chapter and those provisions of chapter 368z not specified in this subsection, except that a request for permission to undertake a transfer or change of ownership or control shall not be required pursuant to subsection (a) of section 19a-638 if the Office of Health Care Access division of the Department of Public Health determines that the following conditions are satisfied: (1) Prior to any such transfer or change of ownership or control, the outpatient surgical facility shall be owned and controlled exclusively by persons licensed pursuant to section 20-13 or chapter 375, either directly or through a limited liability company, formed pursuant to chapter 613, a corporation, formed pursuant to chapters 601 and 602, or a limited liability partnership, formed pursuant to chapter 614, that is exclusively owned by persons licensed pursuant to section 20-13 or chapter 375, or is under the interim control of an estate executor or conservator pending transfer of an ownership interest or control to a person licensed under section 20-13 or chapter 375, and (2) after any such transfer or change of ownership or control, persons licensed pursuant to section 20-13 or chapter 375, a limited liability company, formed pursuant to chapter 613, a corporation, formed pursuant to chapters 601 and 602, or a limited liability partnership, formed pursuant to chapter 614, that is exclusively owned by persons licensed pursuant to section 20-13 or chapter 375, shall own and control no less than a sixty per cent interest in the outpatient surgical facility.

      (d) The provisions of this section shall not apply to persons licensed to practice dentistry or dental medicine pursuant to chapter 379 or to outpatient clinics licensed pursuant to this chapter.

      (e) Any outpatient surgical facility that is accredited as provided in section 19a-691 shall continue to be subject to the requirements of section 19a-691.

      (f) The Commissioner of Public Health may provide a waiver for outpatient surgical facilities from the physical plant and staffing requirements of the licensing regulations adopted pursuant to this chapter, provided no waiver may be granted unless the health, safety and welfare of patients is ensured.

      (P.A. 03-274, S. 1; P.A. 04-249, S. 1; P.A. 05-3, S. 1; 05-151, S. 2; P.A. 06-64, S. 3; P.A. 10-179, S. 104; P.A. 11-44, S. 177; 11-242, S. 32.)

      History: P.A. 03-274 effective July 1, 2003; P.A. 04-249 amended Subsec. (a) by adding provision of diagnostic procedures to definition and including list of facilities not included in definition, amended Subsec. (b) by deleting provisions re exception for outpatient surgical facilities under development, deleting moratorium on new facilities and making technical and conforming changes, deleted former Subsec. (c) re determination of commencement of development, redesignated existing Subsecs. (d) to (f) and (h) as new Subsecs. (c) to (e) and (f), respectively, amended new Subsec. (c) by listing sections from which facilities are exempt, providing factors under which request for permission to change control or ownership of facility not required and imposing limitations on ownership and control of facilities, and deleted former Subsec. (g) re rights and obligations of such facilities, effective July 1, 2004; P.A. 05-3 amended Subsec. (b) by changing "and" to "or" re conditions to be met in order for a facility to operate without a license until March 30, 2007, effective April 1, 2005; P.A. 05-151 amended Subsec. (c) by removing reference to repealed Sec. 19a-617a; P.A. 06-64 amended Subsec. (c) by deleting references to repealed sections, effective July 1, 2006; P.A. 10-179 amended Subsecs. (b)(1) and (c) by replacing "Office of Health Care Access" with "Office of Health Care Access division of the Department of Public Health" and, in Subsec. (c), by deleting reference to Sec. 19a-637a; P.A. 11-44 amended Subsec. (c) by deleting references to Secs. 19a-662, 19a-669 to 19a-670a, 19a-671, 19a-671a and 19a-672, added reference to Sec. 19a-673 and made technical changes, effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 11-242 amended Subsec. (c) by adding references to persons licensed pursuant to Ch. 375.

      Sec. 19a-494. (Formerly Sec. 19-579). Disciplinary action. (a) The Commissioner of Public Health, after a hearing held in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, may take any of the following actions, singly or in combination, in any case in which the commissioner finds that there has been a substantial failure to comply with the requirements established under this chapter, the Public Health Code or licensing regulations:

      (1) Revoke a license or certificate;

      (2) Suspend a license or certificate;

      (3) Censure a licensee or certificate holder;

      (4) Issue a letter of reprimand to a licensee or certificate holder;

      (5) Place a licensee or certificate holder on probationary status and require him to report regularly to the department on the matters which are the basis of the probation;

      (6) Restrict the acquisition of other facilities for a period of time set by the commissioner;

      (7) Issue an order compelling compliance with applicable statutes or regulations of the department; or

      (8) Impose a directed plan of correction.

      (b) Notice of the hearing to the holder of a license or certificate shall be effected by registered or certified mail or by personal service, setting forth the particular reasons for the proposed action and fixing a date, not less than thirty days from the date of such mailing or service, at which the holder of such license or certificate shall be given an opportunity for a prompt and fair hearing, and witnesses may be subpoenaed by either party for such hearing. Such hearing may be conducted by the Commissioner of Public Health, a deputy commissioner, or by a member of the Department of Public Health, designated by said commissioner. On the basis of such hearing, or upon default of the holder of such license or certificate, the person conducting such hearing shall specify his findings and conclusions, and said department may, upon the basis of such findings and conclusions take any action authorized by this section that it deems necessary. A copy of such decision shall be sent by registered or certified mail or served personally upon the holder of such license or certificate.

      (1953, 1955, S. 2054d; 1969, P.A. 399; P.A. 77-614, S. 323, 610; P.A. 78-303, S. 70, 136; P.A. 80-127, S. 2; P.A. 83-103, S. 1; P.A. 89-350, S. 8; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 11-242, S. 85.)

      History: 1969 act replaced department of health with public health council, included deputy commissioner or member of department or public health council as eligible for hearing panel and made slight language changes; Sec. 19-35 transferred to Sec. 19-579 in 1977; P.A. 77-614 replaced commissioner and department of health with commissioner and department of health services, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 78-303 replaced public health council with commissioner of health services; P.A. 80-127 included references to certificates and holders of certificates; Sec. 19-579 transferred to Sec. 19a-494 in 1983; P.A. 83-103 deleted requirement making suspension or revocation of a license or certificate final 30 days after it is mailed or served; P.A. 89-350 divided the existing section into Subsecs. (a) and (b), substituted the reference to chapter 54 for language specifying hearing requirements and specified other actions besides suspension and revocation; P.A. 93-381 replaced department and commissioner of health services with department and commissioner of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 11-242 amended Subsec. (a) by adding Subdiv. (8) re imposition of directed plan of correction and by making technical changes.

      Sec. 19a-495. (Formerly Sec. 19-580). Regulations re licensed institutions. Implementation of policies and procedures re medications. (a) The Department of Public Health shall, after consultation with the appropriate public and voluntary hospital planning agencies, establish classifications of institutions. The department shall, in the Public Health Code, adopt, amend, promulgate and enforce such regulations based upon reasonable standards of health, safety and comfort of patients and demonstrable need for such institutions, with respect to each classification of institutions to be licensed under sections 19a-490 to 19a-503, inclusive, including their special facilities, as will further the accomplishment of the purposes of said sections in promoting safe, humane and adequate care and treatment of individuals in institutions. The department shall adopt such regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, concerning home health care agencies and homemaker-home health aide agencies.

      (b) The Department of Public Health, with the advice of the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, shall include in the regulations adopted pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, additional standards for community residences, as defined in section 19a-507a, which shall include, but not be limited to, standards for: (1) Safety, maintenance and administration; (2) protection of human rights; (3) staffing requirements; (4) administration of medication; (5) program goals and objectives; (6) services to be offered; and (7) population to be served.

      (c) The commissioner may waive any provisions of the regulations affecting the physical plant requirements of residential care homes if the commissioner determines that such waiver would not endanger the health, safety or welfare of any resident. The commissioner may impose conditions, upon granting the waiver, that assure the health, safety and welfare of residents, and may revoke the waiver upon a finding that the health, safety or welfare of any resident has been jeopardized. The commissioner shall not grant a waiver that would result in a violation of the Fire Safety Code or State Building Code. The commissioner may adopt regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, establishing procedures for an application for a waiver pursuant to this subsection.

      (d) The Commissioner of Public Health, in consultation with the Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services, may implement policies and procedures, in compliance with federal law, permitting licensed health care providers with prescriptive authority to prescribe medications to treat persons dependent on opiates in free standing substance abuse treatment facilities, licensed under section 19a-490, while in the process of adopting such policies and procedures in regulation form, provided the commissioner prints notice of the intent to adopt regulations in the Connecticut Law Journal not later than thirty days after the date of implementation of such policies and procedures. Policies and procedures implemented pursuant to this subsection shall be valid until the time final regulations are adopted.

      (1953, 1955, S. 2055d; 1969, P.A. 693, S. 3; P.A. 77-61, S. 1, 3; 77-601, S. 4, 11; 77-614, S. 323, 610; P.A. 79-610, S. 24; P.A. 84-341, S. 7, 8; P.A. 86-371, S. 31, 45; 86-374, S. 3, 6; P.A. 93-262, S. 58, 87; 93-381, S. 33, 39; P.A. 95-160, S. 13, 69; 95-257, S. 11, 12, 21, 58; P.A. 96-139, S. 12, 13; P.A. 97-112, S. 1; P.A. 01-195, S. 151, 181; P.A. 11-8, S. 27; 11-242, S. 27.)

      History: 1969 act replaced "advisory committee", i.e. committee on hospital licensing, with "council", i.e. council on hospitals, required consultation with public and voluntary hospital planning agencies and included reference to regulations based on standards of "demonstrable need for such institutions"; Sec. 19-36 transferred to Sec. 19-580 in 1977; P.A. 77-61 deleted reference to council on hospitals; P.A. 77-601 added provision re regulations concerning home health care, homemaker-home health aide and coordination, assessment and monitoring agencies; P.A. 77-614 replaced department of health with department of health services, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 79-610 added Subsec. (b); Sec. 19-580 transferred to Sec. 19a-495 in 1983; P.A. 84-341 added Subsec. (c) concerning additional regulations for community residences for mentally ill adults; P.A. 86-371 amended Subsec. (b) to require the advice of the Connecticut alcohol and drug abuse commission rather than the department of mental health; P.A. 86-374 added provision in Subsec. (a) specifying when a coordination, assessment and monitoring agency may be a service provider; P.A. 93-262 amended Subsec. (a) to delete the reference to the recommendations of the commissioner on aging, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 93-381 replaced department of health services with department of public health and addiction services and deleted Subsec. (b) re licensing regulations prior to October 1, 1979, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-160 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting references to coordination, assessment and monitoring agencies and made a technical change, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health and replaced Commissioner and Department of Mental Health with Commissioner and Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 96-139 changed effective date of P.A. 95-160 but without affecting this section; P.A. 97-112 added new Subsec. (c) re waiver of physical plant regulations; P.A. 01-195 made technical changes in Subsecs. (a) and (c), effective July 11, 2001; P.A. 11-8 made a technical change in Subsec. (c), effective May 24, 2011; P.A. 11-242 added Subsec. (d) re commissioner's authority to implement policies and procedures while adopting regulations re medications prescribed to treat persons dependent on opiates in free standing substance abuse treatment facilities, effective July 13, 2011.

      Sec. 19a-495b. Residential care homes. Operational requirements. Conforming amendments to the Public Health Code. (a) A residential care home that is colocated with a chronic and convalescent nursing home or a rest home with nursing supervision may request permission of the Department of Public Health to meet the requirements of section 19-13-D6(j) of the Public Health Code concerning attendants in residence from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. through the use of shared personnel.

      (b) A residential care home shall maintain temperatures in resident rooms and all other areas used by residents at the minimum temperature of seventy-one degrees Fahrenheit.

      (c) A residential care home shall ensure that the maximum time span between a resident's evening meal and breakfast does not exceed fourteen hours unless a substantial bedtime nourishment is offered by the residential care home.

      (d) On and after July 1, 2011, the Department of Public Health shall no longer (1) require that a person seeking a license to operate a residential care home supply to the department a certificate of physical and mental health, signed by a physician, at the time of an initial or subsequent application for licensure; and (2) approve the time scheduling of regular meals and snacks in residential care homes.

      (e) In accordance with section 19a-36, the Commissioner of Public Health shall amend the Public Health Code in conformity with the provisions of this section.

      (P.A. 11-242, S. 56.)

      History: P.A. 11-242 effective July 1, 2011.

      Sec. 19a-504c. Regulations; standards for hospital discharge planning. The Department of Public Health shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to set minimum standards for hospital discharge planning services. Such standards shall include, but not necessarily be limited to, requirements for (1) a written discharge plan prepared in consultation with the patient, or the patient's family or representative, and the patient's physician, and (2) a procedure for advance notice to the patient of the patient's discharge and provision of a copy of the discharge plan to the patient prior to discharge. Whenever a hospital refers a patient's name to a nursing home as part of the hospital's discharge planning process, or when a hospital patient requests such a referral, the hospital shall make a copy of the patient's hospital record available to the nursing home and shall allow the nursing home access to the patient for purposes of care planning and consultation.

      (P.A. 88-335, S. 2, 5; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 11-236, S. 4.)

      History: P.A. 93-381 replaced department of health services with department of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 11-236 added provision requiring hospital referring a patient to a nursing home to make the patient's hospital record available and to allow the nursing home access to the patient, and made technical changes, effective July 13, 2011.

      Sec. 19a-522f. Chronic and convalescent nursing homes and rest homes with nursing supervision: Administration of peripherally inserted central catheter by IV therapy nurse. (a) As used in this section:

      (1) "Administer" means to initiate the venipuncture and deliver an IV fluid or IV admixture into the blood stream through a vein, and to monitor and care for the venipuncture site, terminate the procedure and record pertinent events and observations;

      (2) "IV admixture" means an IV fluid to which one or more additional drug products have been added;

      (3) "IV fluid" means sterile solutions of fifty milliliters or more, intended for intravenous infusion, but does not include blood and blood products;

      (4) "IV therapy" means the introduction of an IV fluid or IV admixture into the blood stream through a vein for the purpose of correcting water deficit and electrolyte imbalances, providing nutrition, and delivering antibiotics and other therapeutic agents approved by a chronic and convalescent nursing home's or a rest home with nursing supervision's medical staff;

      (5) "IV therapy program" means the overall plan by which a chronic and convalescent nursing home or a rest home with nursing supervision implements, monitors and safeguards the administration of IV therapy to patients; and

      (6) "IV therapy nurse" means a registered nurse who is qualified by education and training and has demonstrated proficiency in the theoretical and clinical aspects of IV therapy to administer an IV fluid or IV admixture.

      (b) An IV therapy nurse employed by, or operating under a contract to provide services in, a chronic and convalescent nursing home or a rest home with nursing supervision that operates an IV therapy program may administer a peripherally inserted central catheter as part of such facility's IV therapy program. The Department of Public Health shall adopt regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 to carry out the purposes of this section.

      (P.A. 11-40, S. 1.)

      Sec. 19a-533. (Formerly Sec. 19-614a). Discrimination against indigent applicants. Definitions. Prohibitions. Record-keeping. Investigation of complaints. Penalties. Waiting lists; not required to accept indigents. Removal from waiting lists. (a) As used in this section, "nursing home" means any chronic and convalescent facility or any rest home with nursing supervision, as defined in section 19a-521, which has a provider agreement with the state to provide services to recipients of funds obtained through Title XIX of the Social Security Amendments of 1965; and "indigent person" means any person who is eligible for or who is receiving medical assistance benefits from the state.

      (b) A nursing home which receives payment from the state for rendering care to indigent persons shall:

      (1) Be prohibited from discriminating against indigent persons who apply for admission to such facility on the basis of source of payment. Except as otherwise provided by law, all applicants for admission to such facility shall be admitted in the order in which such applicants apply for admission. Each nursing home shall (A) provide a receipt to each applicant for admission to its facility who requests placement on a waiting list stating the date and time of such request and (B) maintain a dated list of such applications which shall be available at all times to any applicant, his bona fide representative, authorized personnel from the Departments of Public Health and Social Services and such other state agencies or other bodies established by state statute whose statutory duties necessitate access to such lists. If a nursing home desires to remove the name of an applicant who is unresponsive to facility telephone calls and letters from its waiting list, the nursing home may, no sooner than ninety days after initial placement of the person's name on the waiting list, inquire by letter to such applicant and any one person if designated by such applicant whether the applicant desires continuation of his name on the waiting list. If the applicant does not respond and an additional thirty days pass, the facility may remove such applicant's name from its waiting list. A nursing home may annually send a waiting list placement continuation letter to all persons on the waiting list for at least ninety days to inquire as to whether such person desires continuation of his name on the waiting list, provided such letter shall also be sent to any one person if designated by such applicant. If such person does not respond and at least thirty days pass, the facility may remove the person's name from its waiting list. Indigent persons shall be placed on any waiting list for admission to a facility and shall be admitted to the facility as vacancies become available, in the same manner as self-pay applicants, except as provided in subsections (f) and (g) of this section;

      (2) Post in a conspicuous place a notice informing applicants for admission that the facility is prohibited by statute from discriminating against indigent applicants for admission on the basis of source of payment. Such notice shall advise applicants for admission of the remedies available under this section and shall list the name, address and telephone number of the ombudsman who serves the region in which the facility is located;

      (3) Be prohibited from requiring that an indigent person pay any sum of money or furnish any other consideration, including but not limited to the furnishing of an agreement by the relative, conservator or other responsible party of an indigent person which obligates such party to pay for care rendered to an indigent person as a condition for admission of such indigent person;

      (4) Record in the patient roster, maintained pursuant to the Public Health Code, or in a separate roster maintained for this purpose, the number of patients who are Medicare, Medicaid and private pay patients on each day. Such numbers shall be recorded daily and made available, upon request, to the state or regional ombudsman.

      (c) Upon the receipt of a complaint concerning a violation of this section, the Department of Social Services shall conduct an investigation into such complaint.

      (d) The Department of Social Services is authorized to decrease the daily reimbursement rate to a nursing home for one year for a violation of this section which occurred during the twelve-month period covered by the cost report upon which the per diem rate is calculated. The per diem rate shall be reduced by one-quarter of one per cent for an initial violation of this section and one per cent for each additional violation.

      (e) Prior to imposing any sanction, the Department of Social Services shall notify the nursing home of the alleged violation and the accompanying sanction, and shall permit such facility to request an administrative hearing, in accordance with sections 4-176e to 4-181a, inclusive. A facility shall request such hearing within fifteen days of receipt of the notice of violation from the Department of Social Services. The department shall stay the imposition of any sanction pending the outcome of the administrative hearing.

      (f) A nursing home with a number of self-pay residents equal to or less than thirty per cent of its total number of residents shall not be required to admit an indigent person on a waiting list for admission when a vacancy becomes available during the subsequent six months, provided no bed may be held open for more than thirty days. Each such nursing home meeting the conditions for such waiver shall on a quarterly basis notify the Commissioner of Social Services and the regional nursing home ombudsman office of the date on which such six-month period of waiver began.

      (g) A nursing home shall not be required to admit an indigent person on a waiting list for admission when a vacancy becomes available if the vacancy is in a private room.

      (h) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, a nursing home may, without regard to the order of its waiting list, admit an applicant who (1) seeks to transfer from a nursing home that is closing, or (2) seeks to transfer from a nursing home in which the applicant was placed following the closure of the nursing home where such applicant previously resided or, in the case of a nursing home placed in receivership, the anticipated closure of the nursing home where such applicant previously resided, provided (A) the transfer occurs not later than sixty days following the date that such applicant was transferred from the nursing home where he or she previously resided, and (B) the applicant submitted an application to the nursing home to which he or she seeks admission at the time of the applicant's transfer from the nursing home where he or she previously resided.

      (P.A. 80-364, S. 1-3; P.A. 84-245; P.A. 88-317, S. 83, 107; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-8, S. 29, 63; P.A. 92-231, S. 2, 10; P.A. 93-262, S. 59, 87; 93-327, S. 1, 4; 93-364; 93-381, S. 9, 39; 93-435, S. 59, 95; May 25 Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-1, S. 21, 130; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-2, S. 129, 165; P.A. 99-176, S. 21, 24; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-3, S. 74; P.A. 04-76, S. 28; P.A. 11-233, S. 1; 11-242, S. 52.)

      History: Sec. 19-614a transferred to Sec. 19a-533 in 1983; P.A. 84-245 amended Subsec. (b)(1) to require each nursing home to provide a receipt to each applicant for admission and to maintain a dated list of applicants; P.A. 88-317 amended reference to Secs. 4-177 to 4-181 in Subsec. (e) to include new sections added to Ch. 54, effective July 1, 1989, and applicable to all agency proceedings commencing on or after that date; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-8 made technical corrections in Subsec. (b) and added Subsecs. (f), (g) and (h) governing admission of indigents to nursing homes and concerning a review of documentation requirements; P.A. 92-231 amended Subsec. (f) by substituting 30% for 20%, inserted new Subsec. (h) re priority admission for applicants insured under long-term care policies precertified under Sec. 38a-475 and relettered former Subsec. (h) accordingly; P.A. 93-262 and P.A. 93-435 replaced references to departments of income maintenance and aging with department of social services and deleted Subsec. (i) re review of documentation requirements by income maintenance department and suggestions to reduce administrative requirements made to general assembly, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 93-327 amended Subsec. (b)(1) to describe process for removal of names from a waiting list and (b)(4) to replace requirements re daily log with requirements re patient roster and amended Subsec. (f) to require notice to commissioner of income maintenance and the ombudsman when waiver period begins; P.A. 93-364 deleted former Subsec. (h) allowing nursing homes to fill vacancies on a priority basis for applicants insured under long-term care insurance policies, and would have relettered former Subsec. (i) as (h), but the latter change failed to take effect, Subsec. (i) having been deleted by P.A. 93-262; P.A. 93-381 replaced department of health services with department of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; May 25 Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-1 amended Subsec. (b)(1) by making technical changes, effective July 1, 1994; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-2 amended Subsec. (c) by requiring the Department of Social Services to conduct investigations, in addition to the regional ombudsman, effective July 1, 1997; P.A. 99-176 amended Subsec. (c) to delete reference to the regional ombudsman and delete required report of findings, effective July 1, 1999; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-3 added new Subsec. (h) re priority given to nursing home applicant seeking to transfer from a nursing home that is closing, effective August 20, 2003; P.A. 04-76 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting reference to "general assistance benefits from a town" in definition of "indigent person"; P.A. 11-233 amended Subsec. (h) by designating existing provision re transfer from a nursing home that is closing as Subdiv. (1) and adding Subdiv. (2) re transfers from nursing homes under other circumstances, effective July 13, 2011; P.A. 11-242 made identical changes as P.A. 11-233.

      Sec. 19a-535. (Formerly Sec. 19-616). Transfer or discharge of residents. Notice. Plan required. Appeal. Hearing. (a) For the purposes of this section: (1) "Facility" means an entity certified as a nursing facility under the Medicaid program or an entity certified as a skilled nursing facility under the Medicare program or with respect to facilities that do not participate in the Medicaid or Medicare programs, a chronic and convalescent nursing home or a rest home with nursing supervision as defined in section 19a-521; (2) "continuing care facility which guarantees life care for its residents" has the same meaning as provided in section 17b-354; (3) "transfer" means the movement of a resident from one facility to another facility or institution, including, but not limited to, a hospital emergency department, if the resident is admitted to the facility or institution or is under the care of the facility or institution for more than twenty-four hours; (4) "discharge" means the movement of a resident from a facility to a noninstitutional setting; (5) "self-pay resident" means a resident who is not receiving state or municipal assistance to pay for the cost of care at a facility, but shall not include a resident who has filed an application with the Department of Social Services for Medicaid coverage for facility care but has not received an eligibility determination from the department on such application, provided the resident has timely responded to requests by the department for information that is necessary to make such determination; and (6) "emergency" means a situation in which a failure to effect an immediate transfer or discharge of the resident that would endanger the health, safety or welfare of the resident or other residents.

      (b) A facility shall not transfer or discharge a resident from the facility except to meet the welfare of the resident which cannot be met in the facility, or unless the resident no longer needs the services of the facility due to improved health, the facility is required to transfer the resident pursuant to section 17b-359 or section 17b-360, or the health or safety of individuals in the facility is endangered, or in the case of a self-pay resident, for the resident's nonpayment or arrearage of more than fifteen days of the per diem facility room rate, or the facility ceases to operate. In each case the basis for transfer or discharge shall be documented in the resident's medical record by a physician. In each case where the welfare, health or safety of the resident is concerned the documentation shall be by the resident's physician. A facility which is part of a continuing care facility which guarantees life care for its residents may transfer or discharge (1) a self-pay resident who is a member of the continuing care community and who has intentionally transferred assets in a sum which will render the resident unable to pay the costs of facility care in accordance with the contract between the resident and the facility, or (2) a self-pay resident who is not a member of the continuing care community and who has intentionally transferred assets in a sum which will render the resident unable to pay the costs of a total of forty-two months of facility care from the date of initial admission to the facility.

      (c) (1) Before effecting any transfer or discharge of a resident from the facility, the facility shall notify, in writing, the resident and the resident's guardian or conservator, if any, or legally liable relative or other responsible party if known, of the proposed transfer or discharge, the reasons therefor, the effective date of the proposed transfer or discharge, the location to which the resident is to be transferred or discharged, the right to appeal the proposed transfer or discharge and the procedures for initiating such an appeal as determined by the Department of Social Services, the date by which an appeal must be initiated in order to preserve the resident's right to an appeal hearing and the date by which an appeal must be initiated in order to stay the proposed transfer or discharge and the possibility of an exception to the date by which an appeal must be initiated in order to stay the proposed transfer or discharge for good cause, that the resident may represent himself or herself or be represented by legal counsel, a relative, a friend or other spokesperson, and information as to bed hold and nursing home readmission policy when required in accordance with section 19a-537. The notice shall also include the name, mailing address and telephone number of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman. If the resident is, or the facility alleges a resident is, mentally ill or developmentally disabled, the notice shall include the name, mailing address and telephone number of the Office of Protection and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities. The notice shall be given at least thirty days and no more than sixty days prior to the resident's proposed transfer or discharge, except where the health or safety of individuals in the facility are endangered, or where the resident's health improves sufficiently to allow a more immediate transfer or discharge, or where immediate transfer or discharge is necessitated by urgent medical needs or where a resident has not resided in the facility for thirty days, in which cases notice shall be given as many days before the transfer or discharge as practicable.

      (2) The resident may initiate an appeal pursuant to this section by submitting a written request to the Commissioner of Social Services not later than sixty calendar days after the facility issues the notice of the proposed transfer or discharge, except as provided in subsection (h) of this section. In order to stay a proposed transfer or discharge, the resident must initiate an appeal not later than twenty days after the date the resident receives the notice of the proposed transfer or discharge from the facility unless the resident demonstrates good cause for failing to initiate such appeal within the twenty-day period.

      (d) No resident shall be transferred or discharged from any facility as a result of a change in the resident's status from self-pay or Medicare to Medicaid provided the facility offers services to both categories of residents. Any such resident who wishes to be transferred to another facility which has agreed to accept the resident may do so upon giving at least fifteen days written notice to the administrator of the facility from which the resident is to be transferred and a copy thereof to the appropriate advocate of such resident. The resident's advocate may help the resident complete all administrative procedures relating to a transfer.

      (e) Except in an emergency or in the case of transfer to a hospital, no resident shall be transferred or discharged from a facility unless a discharge plan has been developed by the personal physician of the resident or the medical director in conjunction with the nursing director, social worker or other health care provider. To minimize the disruptive effects of the transfer or discharge on the resident, the person responsible for developing the plan shall consider the feasibility of placement near the resident's relatives, the acceptability of the placement to the resident and the resident's guardian or conservator, if any, or the resident's legally liable relative or other responsible party, if known, and any other relevant factors which affect the resident's adjustment to the move. The plan shall contain a written evaluation of the effects of the transfer or discharge on the resident and a statement of the action taken to minimize such effects. In addition, the plan shall outline the care and kinds of services which the resident shall receive upon transfer or discharge. Not less than thirty days prior to an involuntary transfer or discharge, a copy of the discharge plan shall be provided to the resident's personal physician if the discharge plan was prepared by the medical director, to the resident and the resident's guardian or conservator, if any, or legally liable relative or other responsible party, if known.

      (f) No resident shall be involuntarily transferred or discharged from a facility if such transfer or discharge is medically contraindicated.

      (g) The facility shall be responsible for assisting the resident in finding appropriate placement.

      (h) (1) Except in the case of an emergency, as provided in subdivision (4) of this subsection, upon receipt of a request for a hearing to appeal any proposed transfer or discharge, the Commissioner of Social Services or the commissioner's designee shall hold a hearing to determine whether the transfer or discharge is being effected in accordance with this section. A hearing shall be convened not less than ten, but not more than thirty days from the date of receipt of such request and a written decision made by the commissioner or the commissioner's designee not later than thirty days after the date of termination of the hearing or not later than sixty days after the date of the hearing request, whichever occurs sooner. The hearing shall be conducted in accordance with chapter 54. In each case the facility shall prove by a preponderance of the evidence that it has complied with the provisions of this section. Except in the case of an emergency or in circumstances when the resident is not physically present in the facility, whenever the Commissioner of Social Services receives a request for a hearing in response to a notice of proposed transfer or discharge and such notice does not meet the requirements of subsection (c) of this section, the commissioner shall, not later than ten business days after the date of receipt of such notice from the resident or the facility, order the transfer or discharge stayed and return such notice to the facility. Upon receipt of such returned notice, the facility shall issue a revised notice that meets the requirements of subsection (c) of this section.

      (2) The resident, the resident's guardian, conservator, legally liable relative or other responsible party shall have an opportunity to examine, during regular business hours at least three business days prior to a hearing conducted pursuant to this section, the contents of the resident's file maintained by the facility and all documents and records to be used by the commissioner or the commissioner's designee or the facility at the hearing. The facility shall have an opportunity to examine during regular business hours at least three business days prior to such a hearing, all documents and records to be used by the resident at the hearing.

      (3) If a hearing conducted pursuant to this section involves medical issues, the commissioner or the commissioner's designee may order an independent medical assessment of the resident at the expense of the Department of Social Services which shall be made part of the hearing record.

      (4) In an emergency the notice required pursuant to subsection (c) of this section shall be provided as soon as practicable. A resident who is transferred or discharged on an emergency basis or a resident who receives notice of such a transfer or discharge may contest the action by requesting a hearing in writing not later than twenty days after the date of receipt of notice or not later than twenty days after the date of transfer or discharge, whichever is later, unless the resident demonstrates good cause for failing to request a hearing within the twenty-day period. A hearing shall be held in accordance with the requirements of this subsection not later than fifteen business days after the date of receipt of the request. The commissioner, or the commissioner's designee, shall issue a decision not later than thirty days after the date on which the hearing record is closed.

      (5) Except in the case of a transfer or discharge effected pursuant to subdivision (4) of this subsection, (A) an involuntary transfer or discharge shall be stayed pending a decision by the commissioner or the commissioner's designee, and (B) if the commissioner or the commissioner's designee determines the transfer or discharge is being effected in accordance with this section, the facility may not transfer or discharge the resident prior to fifteen days from the date of receipt of the decision by the resident and the resident's guardian or conservator, if any, or the resident's legally liable relative or other responsible party if known.

      (6) If the commissioner, or the commissioner's designee, determines after a hearing held in accordance with this section that the facility has transferred or discharged a resident in violation of this section, the commissioner, or the commissioner's designee, may require the facility to readmit the resident to a bed in a semiprivate room or in a private room, if a private room is medically necessary, regardless of whether or not the resident has accepted placement in another facility pending the issuance of a hearing decision or is awaiting the availability of a bed in the facility from which the resident was transferred or discharged.

      (7) A copy of a decision of the commissioner or the commissioner's designee shall be sent to the facility and to the resident, the resident's guardian, conservator, if any, legally liable relative or other responsible party, if known. The decision shall be deemed to have been received not later than five days after the date it was mailed, unless the facility, the resident or the resident's guardian, conservator, legally liable relative or other responsible party proves otherwise by a preponderance of the evidence. The Superior Court shall consider an appeal from a decision of the Department of Social Services pursuant to this section as a privileged case in order to dispose of the case with the least possible delay.

      (i) A resident who receives notice from the Department of Social Services or its agent that the resident is no longer in need of the level of care provided by a facility and that, consequently, the resident's coverage for facility care will end, may request a hearing by the Commissioner of Social Services in accordance with the provisions of section 17b-60. If the resident requests a hearing prior to the date that Medicaid coverage for facility care is to end, Medicaid coverage shall continue pending the outcome of the hearing. If the resident receives a notice of denial of Medicaid coverage from the department or its agent and also receives a notice of discharge from the facility pursuant to subsection (c) of this section and the resident requests a hearing to contest each proposed action, the department may schedule one hearing at which the resident may contest both actions.

      (P.A. 76-331, S. 9, 16; P.A. 79-265, S. 1; P.A. 89-348, S. 1, 10; P.A. 93-262, S. 1, 87; 93-327, S. 2; 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 94-236, S. 5, 10; P.A. 95-160, S. 2, 69; P.A. 96-139, S. 12, 13; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-2, S. 115, 165; P.A. 99-176, S. 22, 24; P.A. 03-278, S. 124; P.A. 11-236, S. 1.)

      History: P.A. 79-265 defined "self-pay" patient in Subsec. (a) and added reference to self-pay status, added provisions re minimizing disruptive effects of transfers or discharges and re provision of copies of discharge plan and added Subsec. (c); Sec. 19-616 transferred to Sec. 19a-535 in 1983; P.A. 89-348 inserted new Subsecs. (a), (b), (c), (g) and (h) re the transfer or discharge of patients, a patient's right to appeal a transfer or discharge decision and a patient's right to a hearing, relettering previously existing Subsecs. as necessary; P.A. 93-262 authorized substitution of commissioner and department of social services for commissioner and department of income maintenance, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 93-327 amended Subsec. (c) to permit notice no more than 60 days prior to transfer or discharge and amended Subsec. (f) to replace standard of imminent danger of death with "medically contraindicated"; P.A. 93-381 replaced commissioner of health services with commissioner of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 94-236 amended Subsec. (b) to add requirements re transfer or discharge of a patient in a nursing facility which is part of a continuing care facility, effective June 7, 1994; P.A. 95-160 amended Subsec. (a) by replacing former definition of "nursing facility" with new definitions applicable to section, amended Subsec. (c) by allowing a facility to notify, in writing, or other responsible party, if known, of a patient transfer or discharge and by requiring additional information in the notice of transfer or discharge, deleted in Subsec. (h)(1) a provision allowing a patient notified of a transfer or discharge to request a hearing within 10 days of receipt of such notice and added requirement that commissioner provide notice to a patient within 5 business days of receipt of a notice of proposed transfer or discharge and specified the provisions such notice shall include, amended Subsec. (h)(2) by replacing the Commissioner of Public Health and Addiction Services with the Commissioner of Social Services, by extending the time for a hearing to be held from within 7 "business days" to not less than 10 but not more than 30 days of the date of such request, by requiring the commissioner to issue a written decision of his determination, by extending the time the commissioner has to issue such decision from within 20 days "of the termination of the hearing" to within 60 days "of the determination of the hearing" or within 90 days of the date of the hearing request, whichever occurs sooner and by adding a provision that the facility shall prove by a preponderance of the evidence that it has complied with the provisions of this section, added Subsec. (h)(3)and (4) re requirements for the patient to have the opportunity to examine the contents of such patient's file and re commissioner's authority to order an independent medical assessment for a hearing, amended Subsec. (h)(5) by deleting a provision allowing a facility, in an emergency, to request the commissioner to make a determination as to the need for an immediate transfer or discharge of a patient, by adding a provision providing that in an emergency, "notice required pursuant to subsection (c) of this section and subdivision (1) of this subsection shall be provided as soon as practicable", by adding a definition of emergency and by adding a provision allowing a patient who is transferred or discharged on an emergency basis to contest the action by requesting a hearing, amended Subsec. (h)(6) by providing that an emergency transfer or discharge be excepted from this Subdiv. and by adding Subdiv. (B) prohibiting the transfer or discharge of a patient prior to 15 days from the receipt of the decision and added Subsec. (h)(7) requiring a copy of the decision of the commissioner be sent to the facility and made technical changes, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 96-139 changed effective date of P.A. 95-160 but without affecting this section; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-2 amended Subsec. (c) by eliminating the requirement that the commissioner be notified by a facility of a transfer or discharge and requiring notification to include the procedures for the right to appeal, amended Subsec. (e) by adding transfer to a hospital or transfer into or out of a Medicare distinct part within the same institution to the exceptions in which a patient may be transferred or discharged unless a discharge plan has been developed and eliminating a requirement that the department be notified of an involuntary discharge if the patient receives payments under Title XIX of the federal Social Security Act, as amended, deleted Subsec. (h)(1) which required that the department notify the patient or his representative of any transfer or discharge action a facility plans to make, renumbered the remaining Subdivs. of Subsec. (h) and made technical and conforming changes, effective July 1, 1997; P.A. 99-176 amended Subsec. (c) to substitute "State Long-Term Care Ombudsman" for "state nursing home ombudsman" and to make provisions gender neutral, effective July 1, 1999; P.A. 03-278 made technical changes in Subsec. (c), effective July 9, 2003; P.A. 11-236 replaced "patient" with "resident" throughout, amended Subsec. (a) by deleting definition of "Medicare distinct part" and adding definition of "continuing care facility which guarantees life care for its residents" in Subdiv. (2), by redefining "transfer" in Subdiv. (3), by replacing "discharge" with "movement" and deleting reference to "another institution" in Subdiv. (4) and by adding Subdiv. (5) re definition of "self-pay resident" and Subdiv. (6) re definition of "emergency", amended Subsec. (b) by adding provision allowing facility to transfer or discharge resident if required by Sec. 17b-359 or 17b-360 and restating Subdivs. (1) and (2), amended Subsec. (c) by designating existing provisions as Subdiv. (1) and amending same by adding provision re notice to specify dates by which appeal must be initiated in order to preserve right to appeal hearing and stay proposed transfer or discharge, deleting provision re 10 days to initiate appeal to stay transfer, adding provision requiring notice of an exception to date to appeal transfer or discharge for good cause and adding provision re notice of readmission policy when required under Sec. 19a-537, and by adding Subdiv. (2) re request for appeal to stay proposed transfer or discharge, amended Subsec. (d) by deleting definition of "self pay", deleted former Subsec. (e)(3) re transfer into or out of Medicare distinct part, providing amended Subsec. (h)(1) by providing that exceptions apply in the case of emergency, replacing requirement that written decision be made within 60 days of termination of hearing or 90 days after date of hearing request with requirement that such decision be made not later than 30 days after termination of hearing or 60 days after hearing request, and adding provision requiring commissioner to return to facility a request for a hearing that does not comply with requirements of Subsec. (c), amended Subsec. (h)(4) by deleting definition of "emergency", replacing provision allowing resident to request a hearing within 10 days after receipt of notice or date of transfer or discharge with provision allowing request not later than 20 days after transfer or discharge, adding exception for resident who fails for good cause to request a hearing within 20-day period, replacing requirement that hearing be held within 7 days after receipt of request with requirement that hearing be held not later than 15 days after receipt, and adding provision requiring commissioner to issue decision within 30 days after hearing is closed, added new Subsec. (h)(6) re readmitting resident where transfer or discharge violated provisions of section, redesignated existing Subsec. (h)(6) as Subsec. (h)(7), and amended same by adding requirement that decision be sent to resident and resident's representatives, added Subsec. (i) re request for hearing by resident whose coverage for facility care will end, and made technical and conforming changes, effective July 13, 2011.

      Sec. 19a-537. (Formerly Sec. 19-617a). Definitions. Nursing home responsibilities re reservation of beds. Reimbursement. Readmission. (a) As used in this section and section 19a-537a:

      (1) "Vacancy" means a bed that is available for an admission;

      (2) "Nursing home" means any chronic and convalescent facility or any rest home with nursing supervision, as defined in section 19a-521;

      (3) "Hospital" means a general short-term hospital licensed by the Department of Public Health or a hospital for mental illness, as defined in section 17a-495, or a chronic disease hospital, as defined in section 19-13-D1(a) of the Public Health Code.

      (b) A nursing home shall:

      (1) Reserve the bed of a self-pay resident of such facility who is absent from the facility due to hospitalization whenever payment is available to reserve the bed;

      (2) Inform the self-pay resident and such resident's relatives or other responsible persons, upon admission of a person to the facility and upon transfer of a resident to a hospital, that the bed of a resident will be reserved as long as payment is available to the facility to reserve the bed and that if payment is not made, the resident will be admitted to the next available bed in accordance with subsection (e) of this section;

      (3) Reserve the bed of a resident who is a recipient of medical assistance when the resident is absent from the facility for home leave days authorized under the Medicaid program;

      (4) Inform the resident who is a recipient of medical assistance and such resident's relatives or other responsible persons, upon admission of a person to the nursing home and upon transfer of a resident to a hospital of the conditions under which the nursing home is required to reserve the bed of a resident and that if the home is not required to reserve the bed, the resident will be admitted to the next available bed in accordance with subsection (e) of this section; and

      (5) Not make the bed reserved for a hospitalized resident available for use by any other person unless the nursing home records in such resident's medical record the medical reasons justifying the change in such resident's bed, and the necessity of making the change before the resident's return to the facility, provided no resident's bed shall be changed if (A) such a change is medically contraindicated as defined in subsection (a) of section 19a-550; or (B) if the resident does not consent to the change, except when the change is made (i) to protect the resident or others from physical harm; (ii) to control the spread of an infectious disease; or (iii) to respond to a physical plant or environmental emergency that threatens the resident's health or safety. In the case of such an involuntary change of a resident's bed, disruption of residents shall be minimized, notice shall be provided to the resident or representative not later than twenty-four hours after the change and, if practicable, the resident, if he or she wishes, shall be returned to his or her room when the threat to health or safety which prompted the transfer has been eliminated. When a resident's bed is changed without his or her consent to protect the resident or others from physical harm, a consultative process shall be established on the first business day following the resident's return to the facility. The consultative process shall include the participation of the attending physician, a registered nurse with responsibility for the resident, other appropriate staff in disciplines as determined by the resident's needs and the participation of the resident, such resident's family or other representative. The consultative process shall determine what caused the change in bed, whether the cause can be removed and, if not, whether the facility has attempted alternatives to the change. The resident shall be informed of the risks and benefits of the change in bed and of any alternatives.

      (c) A nursing home shall reserve, for at least fifteen days, the bed of a resident who is a recipient of medical assistance and who is absent from such home due to hospitalization unless the nursing home documents that it has objective information from the hospital confirming that the resident will not return to the nursing home within fifteen days of the hospital admission including the day of hospitalization.

      (d) The Department of Social Services shall reimburse a nursing home at the per diem Medicaid rate of the facility for each day that the facility reserves the bed of a resident who is a recipient of medical assistance in accordance with the following conditions:

      (1) A facility shall be reimbursed for reserving the bed of a resident who is hospitalized for a maximum of seven days including the admission date of hospitalization, if on such date the nursing home documents that (A) it has a vacancy rate of not more than three beds or three per cent of licensed capacity, whichever is greater, and (B) it contacted the hospital and the hospital failed to provide objective information confirming that the person would be unable to return to the nursing home within fifteen days of the date of hospitalization.

      (2) The nursing home shall be reimbursed for a maximum of eight additional days provided:

      (A) On the seventh day of the person's hospital stay, the nursing home has a vacancy rate that is not more than three beds or three per cent of licensed capacity, whichever is greater; and

      (B) Not later than seven days after the date of hospitalization of a resident who is a recipient of medical assistance, the nursing home has contacted the hospital for an update on the person's status and the nursing home documents such contact in the person's file and that the information obtained through the contact does not indicate that the person will be unable to return to the nursing home not later than fifteen days after the date of hospitalization.

      (3) A facility shall be reimbursed for reserving the bed of a resident who is absent for up to twenty-one days of home leave as authorized under the Medicaid program if on the day of such an absence the facility documents that it has a vacancy rate of not more than four beds or four per cent of licensed capacity, whichever is greater. No facility shall require or request a resident who is a recipient of medical assistance to provide payment for such authorized home leave days, whether or not such payment is available from the department.

      (e) If a resident's hospitalization exceeds the period of time that a nursing home is required to reserve the resident's bed or the nursing home is not required to reserve the resident's bed under this section, the nursing home:

      (1) Shall, upon receipt of notification from the hospital that a resident is medically ready for discharge, provide the resident with the first bed available in a semiprivate room or a private room, if a private room is medically necessary;

      (2) Shall grant the resident priority of admission over applicants for first admission to the nursing home;

      (3) May charge a fee to reserve the bed, not exceeding the facility's self-pay rate for the unit in which that resident resided, or not exceeding the per diem Medicaid rate for recipients of medical assistance, whichever charge is applicable, for the number of days which the resident is absent from the facility.

      (f) When the Commissioner of Social Services, or the commissioner's designee, makes a finding that a resident has been refused readmission to a nursing home in violation of this section, the resident shall retain the right to be readmitted to the transferring nursing home pursuant to subsection (e) of this section regardless of whether or not the resident has accepted placement in another nursing home while awaiting the availability of a bed in the facility from which the resident was transferred.

      (g) Whenever a nursing home has concerns about the readmission of a resident, as required by subsection (e) of this section, based on whether the nursing home has the ability to meet the resident's care needs or the resident presents a danger to himself or herself or to other persons, not later than twenty-four hours after receipt of notification from a hospital that a resident is medically ready for discharge, a nursing home shall request a consultation with the hospital and the resident or the resident's representative. The purpose of the consultation shall be to develop an appropriate care plan to safely meet the resident's nursing home care needs, including a determination of the date for readmission that best meets such needs. The resident's wishes and the hospital's recommendations shall be considered as part of the consultation process. The nursing home shall reserve the resident's bed until completion of the consultation process. The consultation process shall begin as soon as practicable and shall be completed not later than three business days after the date of the nursing home's request for a consultation. The hospital shall participate in the consultation, grant the nursing home access to the resident in the hospital and permit the nursing home to review the resident's hospital records.

      (h) A nursing home shall not refuse to readmit a resident unless: (1) The resident's needs cannot be met in the facility; (2) the resident no longer needs the services of the nursing home due to improved health; or (3) the health and safety of individuals in the nursing home would be endangered by readmission of the resident. If a nursing home decides to refuse to readmit a resident either without requesting a consultation or following a consultation conducted in accordance with subsection (g) of this section, the nursing home shall, not later than twenty-four hours after making such decision, notify the hospital, the resident and the resident's guardian or conservator, if any, the resident's legally liable relative or other responsible party, if known, in writing of the following: (A) The determination to refuse to readmit the resident; (B) the reasons for the refusal to readmit the resident; (C) the resident's right to appeal the decision to refuse to readmit the resident; (D) the procedures for initiating such an appeal, as determined by the Commissioner of Social Services; (E) the resident has twenty days from the date of receipt of the notice from the facility to initiate an appeal; (F) the possibility of an extension of the time frame for initiating an appeal for good cause; (G) the contact information, including the name, mailing address and telephone number, for the Long-Term Care Ombudsman; and (H) the resident's right to represent himself or herself at the appeal hearing or to be represented by legal counsel, a relative, a friend or other spokesperson. If a resident is, or the nursing home alleges a resident is, mentally ill or developmentally disabled, the nursing home shall include in the notice to the resident the contact information, including the name, mailing address and telephone number of the Office of Protection and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities. The Commissioner of Social Services, or the commissioner's designee, shall hold a hearing in accordance with chapter 54 to determine whether the nursing home has violated the provisions of this section. The commissioner, or the commissioner's designee, shall convene such hearing not later than fifteen days after the date of receipt of the request. The commissioner, or the commissioner's designee, shall issue a decision not later than thirty days after the date on which the hearing record is closed. The commissioner, or the commissioner's designee, may require the nursing home to readmit the resident to a semiprivate room or a private room, if a private room is medically necessary. The Superior Court shall consider an appeal from a decision of the commissioner pursuant to this section as a privileged case in order to dispose of the case with the least possible delay.

      (i) If, following a consultation convened pursuant to subsection (g) of this section, a nursing home does not readmit a resident, the resident may file a complaint with the Commissioner of Social Services pursuant to section 19a-537a. If the resident has requested a hearing pursuant to subsection (h) of this section, the commissioner shall stay an investigation of such complaint until the issuance of a determination following the hearing. Each day a nursing home fails to readmit a resident in violation of this section may be considered a separate violation for the purpose of determining a penalty pursuant to section 19a-537a, except no penalty shall accrue during the period of time beginning with the date a consultation is requested until the date a hearing decision is issued, if a hearing is requested, provided the commissioner, or the commissioner's designee, finds the nursing home has acted in good faith in refusing to readmit the resident. If the resident does not request a hearing and the resident files a complaint with the commissioner pursuant to section 19a-537a, no penalty shall accrue during the time an investigation is conducted, provided the commissioner finds the facility acted in good faith in refusing to readmit the resident.

      (P.A. 80-170, S. 1, 2; P.A. 83-348, S. 1, 3; P.A. 85-453, S. 1, 3; P.A. 87-178, S. 1; P.A. 88-197, S. 1; P.A. 93-262, S. 1, 87; 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-160, S. 3, 69; 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 96-81, S. 2; 96-139, S. 12, 13; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-2, S. 64, 69; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-9, S. 129, 131; P.A. 11-236, S. 2.)

      History: Sec. 19-617a transferred to Sec. 19a-537 in 1983; P.A. 83-348 amended Subsec. (b) by adding the requirement that on and after October 1, 1983, a nursing home reserve the bed of a resident who is a recipient of medical assistance and who is absent from such home due to hospitalization for the time it may be reimbursed and by requiring the commissioner to adopt regulations to establish a monetary penalty; P.A. 85-453 amended Subsec. (a) to include "any licensed home for the aged" in the definition of "nursing home" and amended Subsec. (b) to authorize reimbursement at per diem boarding home rate; P.A. 87-178 amended Subsec. (a) to delete "licensed home for the aged" from the definition and amended Subsec. (b) to delete a reference to the "per diem boarding home rate"; P.A. 88-197 added definitions of "vacancy", "level of care" and "hospital", distinguished between nursing homes' obligations to self-pay patients and to patients receiving medical assistance, and substantially revised prior provisions re reservation of beds including provisions re patient information, reimbursement rates and 15-day mandatory bed reservation policy for residents on assistance; P.A. 93-262 authorized substitution of commissioner and department of social services for commissioner and department of income maintenance, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 93-381 replaced department of health services with department of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-160 amended Subsec. (b)(2) by adding a provision that if payment is not made, the resident will be admitted to the next available bed, added Subsec. (b)(3) requiring a nursing home to reserve the bed of a resident who is a recipient of medical assistance when the resident is absent for home leave days authorized under the Medicaid program, amended Subsec. (b)(4) by adding a provision that if the home is not required to reserve the bed, the resident will be admitted to the next available bed, added Subsec. (d)(3) providing for a facility to be reimbursed for reserving the bed of a resident who is absent for up to 21 days of home leave as authorized under the Medicaid program and amended Subsec. (e)(3) by changing the amount that a nursing home shall not exceed when charging a fee to reserve a bed from "the maximum allowable charge for the accommodation being reserved as established by the Department of Social Services for persons who are not recipients of medical assistance" to "the facility's self-pay rate for the unit in which that resident resided", effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 96-81 amended Subsec. (b)(5) to prohibit making the reserved bed available unless such change is medically contraindicated or if the resident does not consent to the change, with exceptions and required a consultation process to be established if the resident's bed is changed without his consent; P.A. 96-139 changed effective date of P.A. 95-160 but without affecting this section; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-2 amended Subsec. (a) to eliminate definition of "level of care", renumbering existing Subdiv. (4) as Subdiv. (3), and to make technical changes in definition of "hospital", amended Subsec. (b) to make technical changes for the purposes of gender neutrality, amended Subsec. (c) to delete phrase "at the same level of care", and amended Subsec. (d) to delete references to "at the same level of care as the hospitalized person", "at the same level of care" and "at the same level of care as the resident so absent", effective July 1, 2001; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-9 revised effective date of June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-2 but without affecting this section; P.A. 11-236 amended Subsec. (b)(2) and (4) by adding requirement that resident be admitted to next available bed in accordance with Subsec. (e), amended Subsec. (b)(4) by replacing reference to Department of Social Services requiring nursing home to reserve a bed with "nursing home is required to reserve the bed", amended Subsec. (c) by replacing "patient" with "resident", amended Subsec. (e)(1) by adding requirement that nursing home provide a resident with first bed available in a semiprivate or private room, if medically necessary, added Subsecs. (f) to (i) re readmission to a nursing home, and made technical changes, effective July 13, 2011.

      Sec. 19a-545. (Formerly Sec. 19-621e). Duties of receiver. (a) A receiver appointed pursuant to the provisions of sections 19a-541 to 19a-549, inclusive, in operating such facility, shall have the same powers as a receiver of a corporation under section 52-507, except as provided in subsection (c) of this section and shall exercise such powers to remedy the conditions which constituted grounds for the imposition of receivership, assure adequate health care for the residents and preserve the assets and property of the owner. If a facility is placed in receivership it shall be the duty of the receiver to notify each resident and each resident's guardian or conservator, if any, or legally liable relative or other responsible party, if known. Such receiver may correct or eliminate any deficiency in the structure or furnishings of the facility which endangers the safety or health of the residents while they remain in the facility, provided the total cost of correction does not exceed three thousand dollars. The court may order expenditures for this purpose in excess of three thousand dollars on application from such receiver. If any resident is transferred or discharged such receiver shall provide for: (1) Transportation of the resident and such resident's belongings and medical records to the place where such resident is being transferred or discharged; (2) aid in locating an alternative placement and discharge planning in accordance with section 19a-535; (3) preparation for transfer to mitigate transfer trauma, including but not limited to, participation by the resident or the resident's guardian in the selection of the resident's alternative placement, explanation of alternative placements and orientation concerning the placement chosen by the resident or the resident's guardian; and (4) custodial care of all property or assets of residents which are in the possession of an owner of the facility. The receiver shall preserve all property, assets and records of residents which the receiver has custody of and shall provide for the prompt transfer of the property, assets and records to the alternative placement of any transferred resident. In no event may the receiver transfer all residents and close a facility without a court order and without complying with the notice and discharge plan requirements for each resident in accordance with section 19a-535.

      (b) Not later than ninety days after the date of appointment as a receiver, such receiver shall take all necessary steps to stabilize the operation of the facility in order to ensure the health, safety and welfare of the residents of such facility. In addition, within a reasonable time period after the date of appointment, not to exceed six months, the receiver shall: (1) Determine whether the facility can continue to operate and provide adequate care to residents in substantial compliance with applicable federal and state law within the facility's state payments as established by the Commissioner of Social Services pursuant to subsection (f) of section 17b-340, together with income from self-pay residents, Medicare payments and other current income and shall report such determination to the court; and (2) seek facility purchase proposals. If the receiver determines that the facility will be unable to continue to operate in compliance with said requirements, the receiver shall promptly request an order of the court to close the facility and make arrangements for the orderly transfer of residents pursuant to subsection (a) of this section unless the receiver determines that a transfer of the facility to a qualified purchaser is expected during the six-month period commencing on the date of the receiver's appointment. If a transfer is not completed within such period and all purchase and sale proposal efforts have been exhausted, the receiver shall request an immediate order of the court to close the facility and make arrangements for the orderly transfer of residents pursuant to subsection (a) of this section.

      (c) The court may limit the powers of a receiver appointed pursuant to the provisions of sections 19a-541 to 19a-549, inclusive, to those necessary to solve a specific problem.

      (P.A. 78-227, S. 5, 10; P.A. 80-309, S. 3; P.A. 89-350, S. 17; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-3, S. 77; P.A. 04-16, S. 15; P.A. 07-209, S. 3; P.A. 11-236, S. 3.)

      History: P.A. 80-309 prohibited transferring patients and closing facility without court order and without preparing discharge plans for residents; Sec. 19-621e transferred to Sec. 19a-545 in 1983; P.A. 89-350 added Subsec. (b) re limitation of receivers' powers, designating prior provisions as Subsec. (a) and adding exception re Subsec. (b); June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-3 added new Subsec. (b) requiring receiver to make determination within 90 days as to whether facility can continue to provide adequate care to residents and to seek facility purchase proposals, authorizing receiver to request an immediate order of the court to close facility if receiver determines facility cannot continue to provide adequate care to residents and making receiver responsible for ensuring an orderly transfer of residents of facilities that are closed, redesignated former Subsec. (b) as Subsec. (c) and made a technical change, effective August 20, 2003; P.A. 04-16 made a technical change in Subsec. (b); P.A. 07-209 amended Subsec. (b) by adding provisions re receiver taking necessary steps to stabilize operation of the facility, and re receiver action within a reasonable time after the date of appointment, not to exceed 6 months, adding "promptly" and deleting "immediate" re receiver's request of court order to close facility, extending time period relating to transfer of the facility to a qualified purchaser from 90 days to 6 months from date of receiver's appointment, and substituting "such period and all purchase and sale proposal efforts have been exhausted" for "one hundred eighty days of the appointment of the receiver" re time period for requesting court order to close facility and make arrangements for transfer of residents, effective July 1, 2007; P.A. 11-236 amended Subsec. (a) by replacing "patients" with "residents", replacing requirement that receiver notify "patients and family, except where medically contraindicated" with requirement that receiver notify the resident and the resident's guardian, conservator, legally liable relative or other responsible party, adding requirement that receiver comply with notice requirements of Sec. 19a-535 before transferring residents and closing facility, and replacing requirement that facility prepare a discharge plan with requirement that facility comply with discharge plan requirements of Sec. 19a-535, and amended Subsec. (b) by making a technical change, effective July 13, 2011.