The bill sSB365, also known as File No. 261, requires certain health care facilities and home care entities to adopt workplace violence prevention standards and health and safety training curricula to ensure the safety of the health care workforce. Health care facilities such as hospitals and nursing homes must adopt standards applicable to Joint Commission-accredited hospitals, while home care entities must implement training endorsed by the CDC's National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. These entities must provide evidence of compliance to the Commissioner of Social Services to receive Medicaid reimbursements. The bill also introduces a provision that allows for a rate enhancement for institutions that report workplace violence incidents within seven days.

The bill further mandates that, starting July 1, 2024, the Commissioner of Social Services increase fees for home health care agencies or home health aide agencies that provide safety escorts during home visits. It amends section 17b-242(a) of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes by removing the age-based fee differential for complex care nursing services and allowing fee increases based on extraordinary service costs. The bill's provisions are set to take effect on October 1, 2024, except for the reimbursement for safety escorts, which is effective upon passage. The bill passed the Human Services Committee with unanimous support.