Bill Text: CT SB00209 | 2016 | General Assembly | Comm Sub
Bill Title: An Act Concerning The Department Of Public Health's Recommendations Regarding The Protection Of Residents In Health Care Institutions.
Spectrum: Committee Bill
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2016-05-01 - House Calendar Number 556 [SB00209 Detail]
Download: Connecticut-2016-SB00209-Comm_Sub.html
General Assembly |
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February Session, 2016 |
*_____SB00209JUD___041816____* |
AN ACT CONCERNING THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH'S RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING THE PROTECTION OF RESIDENTS IN HEALTH CARE INSTITUTIONS.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
Section 1. Section 19a-524 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2016):
If, upon review, investigation or inspection pursuant to section 19a-498, the Commissioner of Public Health determines that a nursing home facility or residential care home has violated any provision of section 17a-411, 19a-491a to 19a-491c, inclusive, 19a-493a, 19a-521 to 19a-529, inclusive, 19a-531 to 19a-551, inclusive, or 19a-553 to 19a-555, inclusive, or any regulation in the Public Health Code or regulation relating to licensure or the Fire Safety Code relating to the operation or maintenance of a nursing home facility or residential care home, which violation has been classified in accordance with section 19a-527, as amended by this act, [he or she shall immediately] the commissioner may issue or cause to be issued a citation to the licensee of such nursing home facility or residential care home. Governmental immunity shall not be a defense to any citation issued or civil penalty imposed pursuant to sections 19a-524 to 19a-528, inclusive. Each such citation shall be in writing, shall provide notice of the nature and scope of the alleged violation or violations and shall be sent by certified mail to the licensee at the address of the nursing home facility or residential care home in issue. A copy of such citation shall also be sent to the licensed administrator at the address of the nursing home facility or residential care home.
Sec. 2. Section 19a-525 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2016):
(a) The administrator of the nursing home facility or residential care home, or [his or her] the administrator's designee, shall, [within three days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, of] not later than five business days after receipt of the citation by the licensee, notify the commissioner if the licensee contests the citation. If the administrator fails to so notify the commissioner [within such three-day period] not later than five business days after such receipt, the citation shall be deemed a final order of the commissioner, effective upon the expiration of said period.
(b) If any administrator of a nursing home facility or residential care home, or [his or her] the administrator's designee, notifies the commissioner that the licensee contests the citation, the commissioner shall provide [within five days of such notice, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays,] an informal conference between the licensee and the commissioner or the commissioner's designee. Not later than five business days after the conclusion of the informal conference, the commissioner shall notify the licensee of the commissioner's conclusions resulting from the informal conference. If the licensee [and commissioner fail to reach an agreement at such conference, the] disagrees with the commissioner's conclusions, the licensee shall notify the commissioner in writing and the commissioner shall set the matter down for a hearing as a contested case in accordance with chapter 54. [, not more than five nor less than three days after such conference, with notice of the date of such hearing to the administrator not less than two days before such hearing, provided the minimum time requirements may be waived by agreement. The commissioner shall, not later than three days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays,] The commissioner shall, after the conclusion of the informal conference if an agreement is reached at, or as a result of, such conference, or after the hearing, issue a final order, based on findings of fact, affirming, modifying or vacating the citation.
Sec. 3. Section 19a-527 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2016):
Citations issued pursuant to section 19a-524, as amended by this act, for violations of statutory or regulatory requirements shall be classified according to the nature of the violation and shall state such classification and the amount of the civil penalty to be imposed on the face thereof. The Commissioner of Public Health shall, by regulation in accordance with chapter 54, classify violations as follows:
[(a)] (1) Class A violations are conditions that the Commissioner of Public Health determines present an immediate danger of death or serious harm to any patient in the nursing home facility or residential care home. For each class A violation, a civil penalty of not more than [five] ten thousand dollars may be imposed;
[(b)] (2) Class B violations are conditions that the Commissioner of Public Health determines present a probability of death or serious harm in the reasonably foreseeable future to any patient in the nursing home facility or residential care home, but that he or she does not find constitute a class A violation. For each [such] class B violation, a civil penalty of not more than [three] five thousand dollars may be imposed.
Sec. 4. Subsection (a) of section 19a-494 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2016):
(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; or
(9) Appoint temporary management for a facility in accordance with the provisions of 42 CFR 488.415, as amended from time to time, for a period of time to be determined by the commissioner.
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections: | ||
Section 1 |
October 1, 2016 |
19a-524 |
Sec. 2 |
October 1, 2016 |
19a-525 |
Sec. 3 |
October 1, 2016 |
19a-527 |
Sec. 4 |
October 1, 2016 |
19a-494(a) |
PH |
Joint Favorable Subst. |
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JUD |
Joint Favorable |