Substitute House Bill No. 5457, now Public Act No. 24-17, amends Section 19a-533 of the general statutes to redefine "nursing home" and "indigent person" and to establish new protocols for nursing home waiting lists. The bill prohibits discrimination against indigent persons based on payment source and requires nursing homes to admit applicants based on the order of substantially completed applications. Nursing homes must provide application receipts, maintain electronic waiting lists by July 1, 2025, and develop privacy policies for waiting list information. The bill also details communication procedures for maintaining the waiting list, mandates posting of non-discrimination notices, and requires electronic records of patient payment types. Nursing homes must justify out-of-order admissions on the waiting list, and the Department of Social Services can investigate complaints and adjust reimbursement rates accordingly, with nursing homes having the right to an administrative hearing before sanctions.

The bill also includes provisions for waivers and exceptions. Nursing homes with less than thirty percent indigent residents can receive a six-month waiver from admitting an indigent person from the waiting list, provided they notify the Commissioner of Social Services and the regional ombudsman office quarterly. Nursing homes are not required to admit indigent persons to private rooms and may admit applicants out of order under specific circumstances, such as transfers from closing nursing homes or from homes in receivership, if the transfer and application occur within a 60-day window. The act was approved on May 14, 2024.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill:
HS Joint Favorable:
File No. 289:
File No. 606:
Public Act No. 24-17: