CA AB895

Skilled nursing facilities and intermediate care facilities must provide prospective residents or their representatives with written notice prior to or at admission containing telephone number, website address, and email for the local long-term care ombudsman and links to state licensing and facility comparison websites.

The notice must state that the ombudsman serves as a resource for accessing information about resident care and reporting resident complaints.

Residential care facilities for the elderly must include similar ombudsman contact information and purpose statement in their admission agreements.

Facility grievance forms must include contact information for the local long-term care ombudsman and State Department of Public Health, along with instructions on how to file grievances with both entities.

The state will not provide reimbursement to local agencies for compliance costs, as the requirements constitute a change in the definition of existing crimes under state law.