The proposed bill would amend current statutes related to nursing care institutions and assisted living facilities by introducing new provisions and modifying existing ones. Specifically, it would grant the Arizona Department of Health Services (DHS) access to personnel records of these institutions, limited to specific information such as names, contact details, employment dates, and documentation of qualifications and training. Additionally, the bill mandates that DHS issue statements of deficiencies to nursing care institutions within ten business days after completing state surveys and establishes a twelve-month limit for initiating complaint investigations, with exceptions for criminal abuse or neglect allegations.

Furthermore, the bill would require DHS to conduct complaint investigations in accordance with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) timeframes based on the severity of complaints. It also clarifies that quality assurance documents prepared by nursing care institutions are not part of a patient's medical record and remain confidential when provided to DHS for regulatory purposes. Overall, these updates aim to enhance oversight and accountability in nursing care institutions while ensuring compliance with established health standards.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 36-406, 36-447.03, 36-2402, 36-411, 13-3620, 46-454