Bill > SB190

This bill establishes a Special Focus Facility Program for nursing homes in Louisiana, requiring facilities selected for this program by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), a federal agency overseeing health insurance programs like Medicare and Medicaid, to undergo enhanced state oversight. Facilities in this program must inform residents about their status due to serious compliance issues, offer current residents the chance to transfer to another suitable facility if safe and feasible, and adhere to additional state requirements beyond those from CMS. These state requirements include attending an in-person meeting with the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) within 45 days of selection to discuss increased monitoring and other state-imposed rules, and entering into an agreement with the LDH to address noncompliance. This agreement may involve further state monitoring, unannounced inspections at the facility's expense, implementing corrective actions, mandatory training, hiring approved consultants, root cause analysis, engaging with a Quality Improvement Organization, owner or license holder analysis, staffing adjustments, fines, and other remedies to improve quality and safety. If a nursing facility fails to meet the program's graduation requirements and the LDH's additional demands within 18 months, the LDH will revoke its license, though revocation can occur sooner if the facility violates the agreement or its noncompliance puts residents at serious risk.