Bill > S09620

This bill requires residential health care facilities, which are places that provide long-term care and housing for individuals, to have written agreements with hospice programs that are licensed under Article 40 of the public health law. Hospice programs provide specialized care for individuals with terminal illnesses, and this bill aims to ensure that eligible residents in these facilities can easily access these services. The agreements must outline how the facility and the hospice program will work together, including details on timely referrals, the specific duties of staff from both entities, how care plans will be developed and managed, how medications will be handled, how to communicate during off-hours and emergencies, and how information will be shared. The Department of Health will also offer guidance and support to help facilities and hospice programs implement these new requirements.