Bill > S496

This bill aims to increase accountability in nursing home administration by requiring nursing home administrators to certify, under penalty of perjury, that their facility's budget and staffing are sufficient to meet residents' care needs at the start of each fiscal year. The certification must be counter-signed by the facility's medical director and includes a detailed definition of "care needs" that encompasses resident care plans, programs, services, staffing, dietary, recreational, rehabilitation, and medical equipment. If an administrator refuses to sign the certification or cannot attest to the budget's sufficiency, they will face suspension by the board of registration of nursing home administrators. Furthermore, the bill empowers the Department of Public Health to prohibit new resident admissions until a satisfactory budget certification is submitted and grants the department authority to impose sanctions, including license revocation or receivership, if a facility's budget is determined insufficient. The bill also establishes potential criminal and civil liability for administrators, medical directors, or facility owners if adverse events occur due to an insufficient budget. These provisions are intended to ensure that nursing homes maintain adequate resources to provide quality care for their residents, with a deadline for developing implementing regulations set for July 1, 2027.

Health and Social Services

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S496