This bill mandates the Department of Health and Human Services to conduct semiannual joint training sessions for nursing home inspectors and nursing facilities. These sessions will focus on reviewing at least three of the ten most frequently issued federal citations from the previous year and will involve the state long-term care ombudsman and representatives from nursing facility provider associations in the planning process. Additionally, the bill requires at least one training session to provide information regarding the settlement agreement from the case Jimmo v. Sebelius, which clarifies that coverage for skilled nursing and therapy services is based on a beneficiary's need for skilled care rather than their potential for improvement.

The bill aims to enhance the understanding and compliance of nursing facilities and inspectors with federal regulations, thereby improving the quality of care provided to residents. The inclusion of the Jimmo v. Sebelius settlement agreement in the training sessions is intended to ensure that all parties are aware of the current policies regarding Medicare and Medicaid services, emphasizing the importance of skilled care needs over improvement potential.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 135C.35C