Sub. H.B. No. 770 Summary

• Permits designated "essential caregivers" to visit long-term care facility residents (nursing homes and ICF/IID facilities) during COVID-19 emergency to provide in-person compassionate care support.

• Defines compassionate care situations broadly to include recent admissions with adjustment difficulties, grief support, assistance with eating/drinking, and emotional distress from isolation, as well as end-of-life visits with minimum two-hour access for at least two visitors.

• Requires facilities to develop visitor policies within two weeks establishing single entry points, COVID-19 screening for all caregivers, personal protective equipment use, six-foot social distancing, hand hygiene, and evening/weekend visit accommodations.

• Exempts compassionate care visits from county COVID-19 positivity rate restrictions, though facilities may implement additional measures if COVID-19 outbreak occurs or caregiver exposure is confirmed.

• Applies through December 31, 2021, or end of COVID-19 state of emergency, whichever is sooner, and takes immediate effect as an emergency measure.