CT SB00899

Allows nursing home facilities to voluntarily reduce licensed bed capacity for a minimum of six months while retaining the right to restore beds to service later, effective July 1, 2015.

Requires facilities to report voluntary bed reductions to the Department of Social Services within thirty days of the reduction.

Permits the Commissioner of Social Services to approve reinstatement of beds if the facility has maintained 95% occupancy for ninety days prior to the reinstatement request and demonstrated need for the beds exists within a fifteen-mile radius.

Requires the Commissioner of Social Services to increase the Medicaid rate paid to facilities that voluntarily reduce beds, calculated by recalculating the facility's fixed costs allocated to the new reduced bed capacity.

Intended to support deinstitutionalization efforts by allowing nursing home facilities to reduce beds without financial penalty.