This bill seeks to enhance the rights and protections of residents in nursing homes and assisted living facilities in Minnesota. It introduces modifications to consent requirements for electronic monitoring, allowing residents or their representatives to provide written consent that can be withdrawn at any time. The legislation establishes a right for residents to be free from retaliation, detailing specific retaliatory actions and enabling legal recourse against nursing homes. Additionally, it mandates annual training for nursing home employees on preventing retaliation. The bill also expands the Home Care and Assisted Living Program Advisory Council from 13 to 15 members, includes representatives from consumer advocacy organizations, and updates various regulations, including the hospice bill of rights and medication management requirements.

Furthermore, the bill prohibits mandatory binding arbitration agreements in assisted living contracts and introduces new fines for maltreatment violations. It clarifies the rights of hospice patients, allowing them to manage pain effectively, revoke hospice election at any time, and receive curative treatment for unrelated conditions. The bill ensures that hospice patients are informed about their rights and the services available to them, including the right to receive a good faith estimate of reimbursement from health plans. In assisted living facilities, it requires that arbitration provisions in contracts cannot coerce residents and mandates that a registered nurse or qualified staff monitor medication management services. Overall, the legislation aims to strengthen the rights and protections of vulnerable adults in long-term care settings.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 144.6502, 144.6512, 144A.04, 144A.474, 144A.4799, 144A.751, 144G.08, 144G.31, 144G.51, 144G.71, 144G.92, 145C.07, 145C.10