Substitute Senate Bill No. 193 seeks to establish a licensure framework for long-term acute care hospitals (LTACHs) in Connecticut by amending Section 19a-490 of the general statutes. The bill repeals existing language and introduces new definitions, specifically including "long-term acute care hospital" within the definition of "institution." This change ensures that LTACHs, which provide essential health services to patients with complex conditions requiring extended hospital stays, are subject to the same regulatory oversight and licensure requirements as other healthcare facilities. The bill also clarifies the definitions of "home health aide agency" and "home health care agency," distinguishing between the two.

In addition to creating a new licensure category for LTACHs under the Department of Public Health, the bill makes several modifications to existing definitions, including the deletion of references to chronic disease hospitals in certain contexts. The new licensure will require LTACHs to comply with the same background check requirements as chronic disease hospitals. The bill is set to take effect on October 1, 2026, and is expected to incur a one-time implementation cost of up to $100,000 for the Department of Public Health, with potential revenue impacts related to the transition of chronic disease hospitals to the new LTACH licensure.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill:
PH Joint Favorable Substitute:
File No. 29: