2017 -- H 6297

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LC002838

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- INSPECTIONS OF HEALTH CARE FACILITIES

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Shanley, Casimiro, Carson, Ackerman, and Canario

     Date Introduced: June 08, 2017

     Referred To: House Corporations

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 23-17-7 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-17 entitled "Licensing

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of Health-Care Facilities" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     23-17-7. Expiration and renewal of license.

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     A license, unless sooner suspended or revoked, shall expire by limitation on the thirty-

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first (31st) day of December following its issuance and may be renewed from year to year. In the

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case of facilities that have not maintained federal certification, the license may be renewed after

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inspection, report, approval, and collection of fees by the licensing agency. The inspection shall

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be made any time prior to the date of expiration of the license. For those facilities that have

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maintained federal certification, no inspection shall be required. The report shall contain

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information in the form that the licensing agency shall prescribe by regulation.

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     SECTION 2. Sections 23-17.4-7 and 23-17.4-10 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-17.4

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entitled "Assisted Living Residence Licensing Act" are hereby amended to read as follows:

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     23-17.4-7. Expiration and renewal of license.

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     A license, unless sooner suspended or revoked, shall expire by limitation on the thirty-

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first (31st) day of December following its issuance and may be renewed from year to year after

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completion of an annual unannounced on-site inspection, report, and approval by the licensing

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agency and the division of fire safety. The annual inspection shall be made any time prior to the

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date of expiration of the license. The report shall contain information in any form that the

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licensing agency shall prescribe by regulation. The licensing agency shall, on an annual basis,

 

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cause no less than ten percent (10%) of all assisted living annual inspections to be conducted, in

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whole or in part, on nights and/or on weekends.

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     23-17.4-10. Regulations, inspections, and investigations.

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     (a) The licensing agency shall after public hearing pursuant to reasonable notice, adopt,

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amend, promulgate, and enforce any rules, regulations, and standards with respect to assisted

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living residences for adults licensed under this chapter as may be designed to further the

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accomplishment of the purposes of this chapter in promoting safe and adequate living

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environments for individuals in assisted living residences in the interest of public safety and

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welfare. These regulations may provide for the establishment of levels of service provided by the

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residence.

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     (b) In addition to the annual inspection required by ยง 23-17.4-7, the The licensing agency

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shall make or cause to be made any inspections and investigations that it deems necessary by duly

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authorized agents of the director at any time and frequency determined by the licensing agency.

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The licensing agency shall establish regulations to determine the frequency of inspections that

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shall include, but not limited to, the residence's past compliance with regulations, complaint

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investigations, quality of care issues and license type. However, the licensing agency shall, on a

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biennial basis, conduct an unannounced on-site inspection of all licensed assisted living

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residences. The licensing agency shall, on an annual basis, cause no less than ten percent (10%)

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of all assisted living inspections to be conducted, in whole or in part, on nights and/or weekends.

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     (c) Upon request of the licensing agency, health agencies and professionals may share

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resident health status information with the department of health for the purpose of determining

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each resident's capability of self preservation.

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     (d) Each assisted living residence licensed under this chapter shall have a plan for

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preventing the hazards of resident wandering from the facility. This plan shall be submitted to the

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licensing agency in a format determined by the director.

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     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- INSPECTIONS OF HEALTH CARE FACILITIES

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     This act would make changes to the licensing procedures for health care facilities. The

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act would also require licensing agencies to conduct unannounced on-site inspections of all

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licensed assisted living residences, on a biennial basis, with not less than ten percent (10%) of

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those inspections to be conducted on nights and weekends.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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