Bill > HB2253

This bill establishes a comprehensive framework for the State Health Commissioner to impose sanctions on nursing homes that violate state health care regulations or engage in illegal activities. The bill allows the Commissioner to place a nursing home's license on probation and impose civil penalties up to $500 per violation per day, with a maximum of $10,000 for related incidents. Before imposing sanctions, the Commissioner must first require the nursing home to submit a plan of correction, which may include mandatory employee training. The bill specifies that sanctions will not be imposed for violations deemed more severe than a level 2 deficiency by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and if CMS has already sanctioned a nursing home, the state will not impose additional penalties. The nursing home retains responsibility for the health and safety of its residents during the sanctioning process, and any person subject to sanctions is entitled to a hearing and subsequent judicial review. Civil penalties collected will be directed to a Nursing Scholarship and Loan Repayment Fund to support nurses working in long-term care facilities. The State Board of Health is required to develop regulations for implementing these sanctions, with the process set to begin on July 1, 2025, and no sanctions will be imposed until these regulations are in place.

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services

https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/HB2253