2021 -- H 6472

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LC003078

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

SUPPORTING PROVISIONS FOR REQUIRING ESSENTIAL CAREGIVERS FOR

RESIDENTS OF NURSING HOMES AND LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES DURING

HEALTH DISASTER EMERGENCIES

     Introduced By: Representatives P Morgan, Nardone, Speakman, Roberts, Quattrocchi,
Hull, J Lombardi, Abney, Handy, and McLaughlin

     Date Introduced: June 25, 2021

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, Throughout the COVID-19 public health emergency, many of our nation’s

most vulnerable people, and their loved ones, lived under the constant fear that getting COVID-

19 could lead to severe complications that could permanently lead to lifelong health ailments or

to death; and

     WHEREAS, Fear of COVID-19 was even more pronounced for our loved ones residing

in skilled nursing facilities, intermediate care facilities for the intellectually disabled, and

inpatient rehabilitation facilities who were unable to have access to their essential caregivers

during the pandemic health emergency. This painful and horrendous isolation had an incredibly

negative impact on the physical and mental well-being of all patients living in these facilities; and

     WHEREAS, The mental, emotional, and physical health and well-being of Rhode

Island's vulnerable residents of nursing homes and other congregate care facilities is of utmost

concern to the people of Rhode Island; and

     WHEREAS, In 2021, the Rhode Island House of Representatives unanimously passed an

Essential Caregiver bill requiring rules and regulations to provide for the designation of essential

caregivers to provide in-person physical or emotional support to a resident of a nursing home or

long-term care facility during the period of fifteen days after the declaration of disaster

emergency and until sixty (60) days after the termination of the declaration of disaster

emergency; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby

supports provisions requiring essential caregivers for residents of nursing homes and long-term

care facilities during health disaster emergencies; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Nicole Alexander-Scott, MD, Director of the

Rhode Island Department of Health.

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LC003078

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