This bill amends existing laws regarding the rights of nursing home patients, specifically focusing on the establishment and operation of family councils within nursing facilities. It defines a family council as a group of family members, friends, or representatives of residents who can meet privately without facility staff. The bill mandates that nursing facilities must provide the family council with the names, email addresses, and other contact information for each resident's representatives, family members, or other designated individuals, given written consent. Facilities are also required to inform families of their rights regarding the council, including the right to consent or withhold consent for sharing contact information.

Additionally, the bill prohibits nursing facilities from obstructing the formation of family councils and requires them to provide adequate space for meetings and to include information about the council in routine communications to family members. If a family council submits written requests, concerns, or recommendations, the facility must consider those and respond in writing within five business days, detailing its rationale for any actions taken.

The bill also introduces provisions to ensure that nursing homes receiving state payments do not discriminate against indigent applicants based on their payment source. It establishes a transparent waiting list process, requiring facilities to admit applicants in the order they apply, maintain a dated list of applications, and provide written receipts for waiting list requests. Nursing homes are prohibited from requiring that an indigent person pay any sum of money or furnish any other consideration as a condition for admission. The bill outlines conditions under which a nursing home may remove an applicant from the waiting list and specifies that indigent persons shall be placed on waiting lists and admitted as vacancies become available, in the same manner as self-pay applicants.

Overall, the act aims to enhance the rights of nursing home residents and ensure fair treatment in the admission process.

Statutes affected:
5170: 23-17.5-30