Bill Text: NY A04611 | 2013-2014 | General Assembly | Amended


Bill Title: Relates to the ability of continuing care retirement communities to offer seniors additional service options.

Spectrum: Strong Partisan Bill (Democrat 15-1)

Status: (Passed) 2014-12-29 - approval memo.34 [A04611 Detail]

Download: New_York-2013-A04611-Amended.html
                           S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
       ________________________________________________________________________
                                        4611--B
                              2013-2014 Regular Sessions
                                 I N  A S S E M B L Y
                                   February 6, 2013
                                      ___________
       Introduced  by M. of A. SCHIMMINGER, ABINANTI, PAULIN, BENEDETTO, GALEF,
         COOK, BOYLAND, SKOUFIS, ROBERTS, HOOPER -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of
         A. BRENNAN, JAFFEE, MAGEE,  McDONALD,  WEISENBERG  --  read  once  and
         referred  to  the  Committee  on  Health -- committee discharged, bill
         amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said  commit-
         tee  --  recommitted  to  the  Committee  on Health in accordance with
         Assembly Rule 3, sec. 2 -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered
         reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
       AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to ability of contin-
         uing care retirement communities to offer seniors  additional  service
         options
         THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
       BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
    1    Section 1. Subdivisions 2-a, 2-b, 3, 8, 10 and 10-a of section 4601 of
    2  the public health law, subdivision 2-a as added and subdivisions 3 and 8
    3  as amended by chapter 659 of  the  laws  of  1997,  subdivision  2-b  as
    4  amended  by  chapter 523 of the laws of 2011, subdivision 10 as added by
    5  chapter 689 of the laws of 1989, and subdivision 10-a as added by  chap-
    6  ter 401 of the laws of 2003, are amended and three new subdivisions 7-a,
    7  7-b and 7-c are added to read as follows:
    8    2-a.  "Continuing  care  retirement  COMMUNITY  contract" shall mean a
    9  single contract to provide a person the services provided by a  continu-
   10  ing care retirement community.
   11    2-b.  "Continuing care retirement community" or "community" shall mean
   12  a facility or facilities established to provide a  comprehensive,  cohe-
   13  sive  living arrangement for the elderly, oriented to the enhancement of
   14  the quality of life and which, pursuant to the terms of  the  continuing
   15  care RETIREMENT COMMUNITY contract, at a minimum:
   16    a.  provides, OR SUPPORTS THROUGH CONTINUING CARE AT HOME, independent
   17  living units, and [provides a]  meal  plan  OPTIONS.    The  independent
   18  living  unit  can be made available either through a non-equity arrange-
        EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                             [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                  LBD05244-09-4
       A. 4611--B                          2
    1  ment or through an equity arrangement including, but not  limited  to  a
    2  cooperative  or  condominium. For purposes of this article, the purchase
    3  price of an independent living unit in an equity arrangement, regardless
    4  of  the form of the purchase agreement, shall not be considered an entry
    5  fee for purposes  of  calculating  reserve  liabilities,  but  shall  be
    6  considered an entry fee for escrow purposes;
    7    b.  provides  a  range  of health care and social services, subject to
    8  such terms as may be included within the contract, which  shall  include
    9  adult  care  facility  services  of  an on-site or affiliated adult care
   10  facility, and at a minimum, sixty days of prepaid services of an on-site
   11  or affiliated nursing facility  for  residents  not  receiving  services
   12  under a fee-for-service contract;
   13    c.  provides  access  to  health  services as defined in the contract,
   14  prescription drugs, and rehabilitation services;
   15    d. nothing in this article shall eliminate the obligation of a contin-
   16  uing care retirement community to provide at least sixty days of prepaid
   17  nursing facility services to all residents, with the exception of  resi-
   18  dents receiving services under the terms of a fee-for-service continuing
   19  care  contract as defined in this section. The prepaid days must include
   20  the first sixty days  of  nursing  facility  services,  whether  or  not
   21  consecutive,  not  covered by Title XVIII of the federal social security
   22  act; and
   23    e. communities established under this article  and  offering  fee-for-
   24  service  continuing  care contracts must offer, along with such fee-for-
   25  service continuing care contracts,  life  care  and/or  continuing  care
   26  contracts as defined in subdivision eight-a of this section.
   27    3.  "Contracts"  or "agreements" shall mean CONTINUING CARE AT HOME OR
   28  continuing care retirement COMMUNITY contracts as defined in this  arti-
   29  cle.
   30    7-A. "CONTINUING CARE AT HOME CORPORATION" SHALL MEAN A NOT-FOR-PROFIT
   31  CORPORATION  AFFILIATED  WITH  A  CONTINUING  CARE  RETIREMENT COMMUNITY
   32  CAMPUS PROVIDER THROUGH WHICH CONTRACT HOLDERS PAY AN ENTRANCE FEE AND A
   33  MONTHLY FEE, BOTH OF WHICH WOULD CORRESPOND  TO  THE  LEVEL  OF  SERVICE
   34  CHOSEN BY THE CONTRACT HOLDER.
   35    7-B.  "CONTINUING  CARE AT HOME CONTRACT" SHALL MEAN A SINGLE CONTRACT
   36  TO PROVIDE A PERSON WITH LONG TERM CARE SERVICES AND SUPPORTS BASED UPON
   37  AN INDIVIDUAL'S NEEDS AND COORDINATED BY A  CASE  MANAGER,  WHICH  SHALL
   38  INCLUDE  SERVICES PROVIDED TO THE INDIVIDUAL IN HIS OR HER RESIDENCE AND
   39  SERVICES OF THE AFFILIATED COMMUNITY'S NURSING FACILITY AND  ADULT  CARE
   40  FACILITY, OR AFFILIATED FACILITIES.
   41    7-C. A. "CONTINUING CARE AT HOME" CORPORATIONS PROVIDING SERVICES IN A
   42  NURSING  HOME  AS  DEFINED  IN  SECTION TWENTY-EIGHT HUNDRED ONE OF THIS
   43  CHAPTER MUST BE LICENSED UNDER ARTICLE TWENTY-EIGHT AND SHALL BE SUBJECT
   44  TO THE PROVISIONS AND STANDARDS OF SUCH ARTICLE.
   45    B. "CONTINUING CARE AT HOME" CORPORATIONS PROVIDING HOME CARE SERVICES
   46  AS DEFINED IN SECTION THIRTY-SIX HUNDRED TWO OF  THIS  CHAPTER  MUST  BE
   47  LICENSED UNDER ARTICLE THIRTY-SIX AND SHALL BE SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS
   48  AND STANDARDS OF SUCH ARTICLE.
   49    8. "Life care contract" shall mean a single continuing care retirement
   50  COMMUNITY  contract  OR  A CONTINUING CARE AT HOME CONTRACT to provide a
   51  person, for the duration of such person's life, the services provided by
   52  the continuing care retirement community OR THE CONTINUING CARE AT  HOME
   53  CORPORATION,  which  services  shall  include  unlimited services of [an
   54  on-site or affiliated nursing facility] THE AFFILIATED COMMUNITY'S NURS-
   55  ING FACILITY OR AFFILIATED NURSING HOME.  Such term also  shall  mean  a
   56  single  continuing  care  retirement  COMMUNITY  contract  to  provide a
       A. 4611--B                          3
    1  person, for the duration of such person's life, the services provided by
    2  the continuing care retirement community under an arrangement  in  which
    3  the costs of the residents' unlimited nursing home or home [health] care
    4  services  are paid for in whole or in part by a long term care insurance
    5  policy approved by the  superintendent  in  accordance  with  applicable
    6  regulations  or  by  long  term  care  insurance  or  medical assistance
    7  payments in accordance with the partnership for long term  care  program
    8  pursuant to the provisions of section three hundred sixty-seven-f of the
    9  social  services  law, section three thousand two hundred twenty-nine of
   10  the insurance law and section four thousand six hundred twenty-three  of
   11  this chapter.
   12    10.  "Living  unit"  shall  mean an apartment, room, cottage, or other
   13  area within a community set aside for the exclusive use of one  or  more
   14  residents,  OR  IN  THE  CASE OF A CONTINUING CARE AT HOME CONTRACT, THE
   15  CONTRACT HOLDER'S PRIVATE RESIDENCE.
   16    [10-a. "Meal plan" shall mean an arrangement whereby the person enter-
   17  ing into the continuing care retirement contract  is  provided  with  no
   18  fewer  than five meals per month. Additional meals shall be available on
   19  a fee-for-service basis.]
   20    S 2. The opening paragraph of subdivision 2 of  section  4602  of  the
   21  public  health  law,  as  amended by chapter 659 of the laws of 1997, is
   22  amended to read as follows:
   23    The council shall meet as often as may be deemed necessary to  fulfill
   24  its  responsibilities[,  but in no event less than four times per year].
   25  The council shall have the following powers and duties:
   26    S 3. Subdivision 1 of section 4603-a of  the  public  health  law,  as
   27  added by chapter 393 of the laws of 1991, is amended to read as follows:
   28    1.  The commissioner, upon approval of the [life care] CONTINUING CARE
   29  RETIREMENT community council and the public health council shall issue a
   30  certificate of incorporation of up  to  three  residential  health  care
   31  demonstration facilities. Notwithstanding any provision of article twen-
   32  ty-eight of this chapter or any other provisions of law to the contrary,
   33  the  public health council may approve without regard to the requirement
   34  of public need as set forth in subdivision three of section twenty-eight
   35  hundred one-a of this chapter, a certificate of incorporation or  appli-
   36  cation for establishment of such facilities.
   37    S  4.  Paragraphs d and e and clause (C) of subparagraph (iv) of para-
   38  graph j of subdivision 2 of section 4604 of the public health law, para-
   39  graph d as added by chapter 689 of the laws of 1989 and paragraph e  and
   40  clause (C) of subparagraph (iv) of paragraph j as amended by chapter 659
   41  of the laws of 1997, are amended to read as follows:
   42    d.  a  copy of the proposed forms of contracts to be entered into with
   43  residents of the community OR CONTINUING CARE AT HOME CONTRACT HOLDERS;
   44    e. complete details of any agreements with a licensed insurer, includ-
   45  ing copies of proposed contracts, requiring the insurer to assume, whol-
   46  ly or in part, the cost of medical or  health  related  services  to  be
   47  provided  to  a  resident  OR  CONTINUING  CARE AT HOME CONTRACT HOLDERS
   48  pursuant to a continuing care retirement COMMUNITY OR CONTINUING CARE AT
   49  HOME contract;
   50    (C) is or was subject to a currently effective injunctive or  restric-
   51  tive order or federal or state administrative order relating to business
   52  activity  or  health  care  as a result of an action brought by a public
   53  agency or department, including, without limitation, actions affecting a
   54  license to operate a hospital as defined by section twenty-eight hundred
   55  one of this chapter, or a facility required to be licensed or  certified
   56  by  the  department  [of social services]. The statement shall set forth
       A. 4611--B                          4
    1  the court or agency, date of conviction or judgment, the penalty imposed
    2  or damages assessed, or the date, nature and issuer of the order;
    3    S  5.  Paragraphs  b,  c and d of subdivision 4 of section 4604 of the
    4  public health law, as amended and paragraph d as added by chapter 659 of
    5  the laws of 1997, are amended to read as follows:
    6    b. the commissioner [of social services] as to those  aspects  of  the
    7  application relating to adult care facility beds, if any;
    8    c.  the  public health AND HEALTH PLANNING council under section twen-
    9  ty-eight hundred one-a of this chapter as  to  the  establishment  of  a
   10  skilled  nursing  facility by the applicant and as to such other facili-
   11  ties and services as may require the public health AND  HEALTH  PLANNING
   12  council's  approval  of  the  application;  provided,  however, that the
   13  recommendations of the [state hospital review and planning  council  and
   14  the]  health systems agency having geographical jurisdiction of the area
   15  where the continuing care retirement community is located shall  not  be
   16  required  with  respect to the establishment of an on-site or affiliated
   17  residential health care facility to  serve  residents  as  part  of  the
   18  continuing  care  retirement  community,  for  up to the total number of
   19  residential health care facility beds provided for in  subdivision  five
   20  of this section in communities statewide;
   21    d.  the  commissioner  under  section twenty-eight hundred two of this
   22  chapter; provided, however, that,  the  recommendations  of  the  [state
   23  hospital  review  and] PUBLIC HEALTH AND HEALTH planning council and the
   24  health systems agency having geographical jurisdiction of the area where
   25  the continuing  care  retirement  community  is  located  shall  not  be
   26  required  with  respect  to the construction of an on-site or affiliated
   27  residential health care facility to  serve  residents  as  part  of  the
   28  continuing  care  retirement  community,  for  up to the total number of
   29  residential health care facility beds provided for in  subdivision  five
   30  of this section in communities statewide; and
   31    S  6.  Paragraph  g  of  subdivision 2 of section 4604-a of the public
   32  health law, as added by chapter 659 of the laws of 1997, is  amended  to
   33  read as follows:
   34    g.  Unless  all  residents OR CONTINUING CARE AT HOME CONTRACT HOLDERS
   35  have life care contracts, the operator has adequately  made  the  assur-
   36  ances  required  by subdivision two of section forty-six hundred twenty-
   37  four of this article and has agreed to fund the liability in  the  event
   38  that [resident] SUCH RESIDENT'S OR CONTRACT HOLDER'S assets are insuffi-
   39  cient to pay for nursing facility services for a one year period.
   40    S 7. Subdivision 13 of section 4606 of the public health law, as added
   41  by chapter 659 of the laws of 1997, is amended to read as follows:
   42    13.  The  initial  disclosure  statement  and marketing materials of a
   43  continuing care retirement community AND CONTINUING CARE AT HOME  CORPO-
   44  RATION  must  clearly  include  a description of the services offered as
   45  part of its contract, including, but not limited to, any limitations  on
   46  nursing  facility services. The initial disclosure statement and market-
   47  ing materials of a continuing care retirement  community  OR  CONTINUING
   48  CARE  AT HOME CORPORATION which offers various types of contracts, which
   49  may include life care contracts, must clearly  differentiate  among  the
   50  various types of contracts which it may offer.
   51    S  8.  Paragraphs  e, f and g of subdivision 14 of section 4606 of the
   52  public health law are relettered paragraphs f, g and h and a  new  para-
   53  graph e is added to read as follows:
   54    E. THE TYPES OF MEAL PLANS AVAILABLE;
   55    S 9. Section 4608 of the public health law, as added by chapter 689 of
   56  the  laws of 1989, the section heading, the opening paragraph and subdi-
       A. 4611--B                          5
    1  vision 6 as amended and subdivision 17 as added by chapter  659  of  the
    2  laws  of  1997,  subdivision  2 as amended by chapter 120 of the laws of
    3  1993, subdivision 8 as amended by chapter 66 of the  laws  of  1994  and
    4  subdivision 15 as further amended by section 104 of part A of chapter 62
    5  of the laws of 2011, is amended to read as follows:
    6    S  4608.  Continuing care retirement COMMUNITY contract.  A continuing
    7  care retirement COMMUNITY OR CONTINUING  CARE  AT  HOME  contract  shall
    8  contain  all  of  the following information in no less than twelve point
    9  type and in plain language, in addition to any other terms or matter  as
   10  may  be required by regulations adopted by the council and issued by the
   11  superintendent, EXCEPT WHEN SPECIFICALLY NOTED:
   12    1. The amount of all money transferred, including, but not limited to,
   13  donations, subscriptions, deposits, fees, and any other amounts paid  or
   14  payable  by,  or  on  behalf of, the resident or residents OR CONTINUING
   15  CARE AT HOME CONTRACT HOLDER OR HOLDERS;
   16    2. A description of all services which are  to  be  furnished  by  the
   17  operator,  a description of any fees in addition to the entrance fee and
   18  periodic charges provided for in the contract, and the conditions  under
   19  which  the  fees  may  be  adjusted, provided that an operator shall not
   20  charge any non-refundable application fee to a prospective resident  who
   21  has  paid  a  non-refundable  priority reservation agreement application
   22  fee;
   23    3. The procedures of the community OR CONTINUING CARE AT  HOME  CORPO-
   24  RATION  relating to a resident's OR CONTRACT HOLDER'S failure to pay the
   25  required monthly fees;
   26    4. A statement of the figures and terms  concerning  the  entry  of  a
   27  spouse to the community and the consequences if the spouse does not meet
   28  the requirements for entry;
   29    5.  A statement of the terms and conditions under which a contract may
   30  be cancelled by the operator or by a resident OR CONTRACT HOLDER and the
   31  conditions under which all or any portion of the entrance  fee  will  be
   32  refunded  by the operator, including the mandatory refund provisions set
   33  forth in sections forty-six hundred nine and forty-six  hundred  ten  of
   34  this article;
   35    6.  a.  The  procedures  and  conditions under which a resident may be
   36  transferred from his or her living unit OR HOME  including  a  statement
   37  that,  at  the  time of transfer, the resident will be given the reasons
   38  for the transfer; the process by which a transfer decision is made;  the
   39  persons  with  the  authority  to  make  the  decision  to  transfer;  a
   40  description of any change in charges to be  paid  by  the  resident  for
   41  services  not  covered by the contract fees as a result of the transfer;
   42  and a statement regarding the disposition of and the right to return  to
   43  the living unit in cases of temporary and permanent transfers.
   44    b.  [The]  FOR  CONTINUING  CARE  RETIREMENT  COMMUNITY CONTRACTS, THE
   45  circumstances under which a living unit may  be  considered  vacant  and
   46  eligible  for  transfer  or  resale to a new resident, either due to the
   47  permanent transfer of a resident to the  community's  nursing  or  other
   48  specialized facility or due to the permanent transfer of a resident to a
   49  hospital  or other facility outside of the community; provided, however,
   50  that nothing therein shall relieve a community from its  obligations  to
   51  provide or to insure provision of all contractually required care pursu-
   52  ant  to  the  terms  of a continuing care retirement contract.  Should a
   53  resident's chronic condition require placement  in  a  more  specialized
   54  chronic  care  facility  that  provides  services  beyond those provided
   55  through the community's nursing facility, the liability of THE community
   56  pursuant to the terms of a continuing care retirement contract shall  be
       A. 4611--B                          6
    1  equal to the current per diem rate of the nursing facility minus the pro
    2  rata  apportionment of the resident's monthly fee for the period of care
    3  required by the contract.  Nothing herein shall  obligate  a  continuing
    4  care  retirement community which does not have a life care contract with
    5  a resident to provide or pay for a level of  nursing  facility  services
    6  nor  for  any  duration  beyond  what  is  specifically described in its
    7  continuing care retirement contract with  that  resident.  This  section
    8  shall  not  affect  the  operator's  obligation under subdivision two of
    9  section forty-six hundred twenty-four of this article;
   10    7. [A] FOR CONTINUING CARE RETIREMENT COMMUNITY CONTRACTS, A statement
   11  that, if the resident dies prior to occupancy date or, through  illness,
   12  injury,  or  incapacity  is precluded from becoming a resident under the
   13  terms of the contract, the contract is automatically rescinded  and  the
   14  resident  or his or her legal representative shall receive a full refund
   15  of all moneys paid to the facility, except for those costs  specifically
   16  incurred by the facility at the request of the resident and set forth in
   17  writing in a separate addendum, signed by the parties to the contract;
   18    8. [A]  FOR CONTINUING CARE AT HOME CONTRACTS, THE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER
   19  WHICH  THE  CONTRACT  HOLDER  MAY  MOVE INTO A CAMPUS INDEPENDENT LIVING
   20  UNIT, ADULT CARE FACILITY OR NURSING HOME;
   21    9.  FOR CONTINUING CARE RETIREMENT COMMUNITY CONTRACTS, A statement of
   22  the conditions under which all or any portion of the entrance  fee  will
   23  be released to the operator before the living unit becomes available for
   24  occupancy,  and  a  statement  of  the conditions under which all or any
   25  portion of that fee will be refunded in the event of the  death  of  the
   26  resident  and/or  spouse following occupancy of a living unit, including
   27  the mandatory refund provisions set forth in section  forty-six  hundred
   28  nine of this article;
   29    [9.] 10. A statement of the advance notice to be provided the resident
   30  OR  CONTRACT  HOLDER, of not less than sixty days, of any change in fees
   31  or charges or scope of care or services;
   32    [10.] 11. A statement that no act,  agreement,  or  statement  of  any
   33  resident  OR  CONTRACT HOLDER, or of an individual purchasing care for a
   34  resident OR CONTRACT HOLDER under any agreement to furnish care  to  the
   35  resident  OR  CONTRACT  HOLDER,  shall  constitute a valid waiver of any
   36  provision of this article or of any regulation enacted pursuant  thereto
   37  intended for the benefit or protection of the resident OR CONTRACT HOLD-
   38  ER  or  the  individual  purchasing  care  for  the resident OR CONTRACT
   39  HOLDER;
   40    [11. A] 12. FOR CONTINUING  CARE  RETIREMENT  COMMUNITY  CONTRACTS,  A
   41  description  of  the  reinstatement  policies  if  a resident leaves the
   42  facility or the contract is cancelled;
   43    [12.] 13. FOR CONTINUING CARE AT  HOME  CONTRACTS,  A  DESCRIPTION  OF
   44  POLICIES IF THE CONTRACT IS CANCELLED.
   45    14.  A  statement  that  internal  procedures  to resolve disputes and
   46  grievances have been established, and  residents  AND  CONTRACT  HOLDERS
   47  notified of them;
   48    [13.]  15. A statement of the grace period, if any, for the payment of
   49  periodic fees without a penalty, and the extent of any penalty  for  the
   50  late payment thereof;
   51    [14.]  16.  A  statement  that: a. the resident OR CONTRACT HOLDER, AS
   52  APPLICABLE shall, if eligible, enroll in medicare parts a and b  or  the
   53  equivalent  and  shall continue to maintain that coverage, together with
   54  medicare supplement coverage at least equivalent in  benefits  to  those
   55  established  by  the  superintendent  as  minimum  benefits for medicare
   56  supplement policies;
       A. 4611--B                          7
    1    b. if the resident OR  CONTRACT  HOLDER  fails  to  maintain  medicare
    2  coverage  and  a medicare supplement coverage, or is ineligible for such
    3  coverage and fails to purchase the  equivalent  of  such  coverage,  the
    4  community  OR  CONTINUING  CARE  AT  HOME CORPORATION shall purchase the
    5  coverage  or  equivalent  coverage  on  behalf and at the expense of the
    6  resident OR CONTRACT HOLDER and shall have the authority to  require  an
    7  appropriate adjustment in payments by the resident OR CONTRACT HOLDER to
    8  the community OR CONTINUING CARE AT HOME CORPORATION;
    9    c.  if  the  community  OR  CONTINUING CARE AT HOME CORPORATION cannot
   10  purchase medicare coverage  and  medicare  supplement  coverage  or  the
   11  equivalent, the community shall have the authority to require an adjust-
   12  ment  in monthly fees, subject to the approval of the superintendent, to
   13  fund the additional risk to the facility OR CORPORATION; and
   14    d. if the resident OR CONTRACT HOLDER fails to  purchase  or  maintain
   15  medicare  coverage  and  medicare supplement coverage or the equivalent,
   16  and the community  OR  CONTINUING  CARE  AT  HOME  CORPORATION  has  not
   17  purchased  such coverage, the community OR CORPORATION will be responsi-
   18  ble for any expenses which would have been covered by medicare and medi-
   19  care supplement coverage.   The community OR  CORPORATION  may  add  the
   20  amount  of  such expenses to the resident's OR CONTRACT HOLDER'S monthly
   21  fees.
   22    [15.] 17. A statement that any  amendment  to  the  contract  and  any
   23  change  in fees or charges, other than those within the guidelines of an
   24  approved rating system, must be approved by the superintendent of finan-
   25  cial services; and
   26    [16.] 18. A statement  that  property  shall  not  be  substituted  as
   27  payment for either the entrance fee or monthly fee.
   28    [17.]  19.  [A]  FOR CONTINUING CARE RETIREMENT COMMUNITY CONTRACTS, A
   29  statement whether the  continuing  care  retirement  COMMUNITY  contract
   30  includes  any  ownership,  beneficial or trust interest in the assets of
   31  the operator, the assets of the facility, or both. Assets shall include,
   32  but are not limited to, property, trusts, reserves, interest  and  other
   33  assets.
   34    S 10. Subdivision 1 of section 4612 of the public health law, as added
   35  by chapter 689 of the laws of 1989, is amended to read as follows:
   36    1.  Residents [living] in a community authorized by this article shall
   37  have the right of self-organization, the right to be represented by  one
   38  or  more  individuals  of their own choosing, and the right to engage in
   39  concerted activities for the purpose of keeping informed of  the  opera-
   40  tion of the community in which they live.
   41    S  11.  Subdivisions 1 and 2 of section 4614 of the public health law,
   42  as amended by chapter 659 of the laws  of  1997  and  subdivision  2  as
   43  further  amended  by  section 104 of part A of chapter 62 of the laws of
   44  2011, are amended to read as follows:
   45    1. The commissioner, or designee; AND the superintendent, or designee;
   46  [and, with regard to communities for  which  the  department  of  social
   47  services  has  regulatory  responsibility,  the  commissioner  of social
   48  services, or designee,] may at any time, and shall at least  once  every
   49  three years, visit each community and examine the business of any appli-
   50  cant  for  a  certificate  of  authority and any operator engaged in the
   51  execution of continuing care retirement COMMUNITY contracts OR  CONTINU-
   52  ING  CARE AT HOME CONTRACTS or engaged in the performance of obligations
   53  under such contracts.  Routine examinations may be conducted  by  having
   54  documents  designated  by  and submitted to such commissioners or super-
   55  intendent, which shall include financial documents and records  conform-
   56  ing  to commonly accepted accounting principles and practices. The final
       A. 4611--B                          8
    1  written report of each such examination conducted by such  commissioners
    2  or  superintendent  shall  be  filed  with the commissioner and, when so
    3  filed, shall constitute a public record.  A copy of each report shall be
    4  provided to members of the continuing care retirement community council.
    5  Any  operator  being  examined  shall, upon request, give reasonable and
    6  timely access to all of its  records.  The  representative  or  examiner
    7  designated by the commissioners or superintendent, respectively, may, at
    8  any  time,  examine  the records and affairs and inspect the community's
    9  facilities, whether in connection with a formal examination or not.
   10    2. Any duly authorized officer,  employee,  or  agent  of  the  health
   11  department,  [social  services  department,]  or department of financial
   12  services may, upon presentation of proper  identification,  have  access
   13  to,  and  inspect,  any  records  maintained  by the community OR BY THE
   14  CONTINUING CARE AT HOME CORPORATION relevant to the respective  agency's
   15  regulatory  authority, with or without advance notice, to secure compli-
   16  ance with, or to prevent a violation of, any provision of this article.
   17    S 12. Paragraph k of subdivision 1  of  section  4615  of  the  public
   18  health law, as amended by chapter 659 of the laws of 1997, is amended to
   19  read as follows:
   20    k. The commissioner [or the commissioner of social services] has found
   21  violations  of  applicable statutes, rules or regulations which threaten
   22  to affect directly the health, safety, or welfare of  a  resident  of  a
   23  continuing  care retirement community OR A CONTRACT HOLDER OF A CONTINU-
   24  ING CARE AT HOME CONTRACT.
   25    S 13. The section heading of section 4623 of the public health law, as
   26  amended by chapter 659 of the laws  of  1997,  is  amended  to  read  as
   27  follows:
   28    Long   term  care  insurance  [for]  AND  continuing  care  retirement
   29  contracts.
   30    S 14. This act shall take effect immediately.
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