HF 23 Summary

• Establishes comprehensive SARS-CoV-2 infection control programs and response plans for nursing homes, boarding care homes, assisted living facilities, and home care providers, including baseline and serial testing, personal protective equipment requirements, and isolation procedures.

• Creates private enforcement rights allowing residents and designated representatives to bring civil actions for violations of health care bill of rights provisions, recovering actual damages or $3,000 (whichever is greater) plus attorney fees and costs.

• Prohibits termination of assisted living services during the COVID-19 peacetime emergency and establishes extensive consumer protections for assisted living clients, including pre-termination meetings, detailed notice requirements, and expedited appeal processes.

• Establishes the Long-Term Care Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Related Coronavirus Task Force with 25 members representing healthcare providers, residents, families, and advocacy organizations to study methods of balancing resident rights with outbreak prevention and advise commissioners.

• Appropriates funding for COVID-19 testing programs, baseline screening grants, serial screening reimbursement, and Board of Executives operations; requires commissioner to create state plan for controlling SARS-CoV-2 in long-term care settings.