Bill > HB904

This bill modifies Georgia's certificate of need (CON) requirements for life plan communities (continuing care retirement communities) with skilled nursing facilities. The changes primarily affect how these facilities can use their nursing home beds for non-resident patients during their initial years of operation. Under the revised law, such facilities can now use up to 50% of their beds for non-resident patients in the first year, 40% in the second year, and 30% in the third year, which is a reduction from the previous five-year sliding scale. After three years, the facility must primarily serve its own residents, with strict limitations on accepting outside patients: no more than 25% of beds can be used for long-term care non-residents and no more than 10% (or five beds) can be used for short-term rehabilitation patients. The bill also clarifies that short-term rehabilitation means Medicare-covered skilled nursing stays of up to 100 days per benefit period. These changes aim to balance the needs of life plan community residents with the flexibility for facilities to serve broader community healthcare needs, while maintaining the primary purpose of serving their own residents.

Health and Social Services

https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71977