Supported by CANHR

This bill would require the Department of Public Health and the Department of Social Services to establish health and safety guidelines for use by skilled nursing facilities, intermediate care facilities, and congregate living health facilities that are providing post-acute care during a pandemic, public health crisis, or other emergency. Status: Referred to Assembly Appropriations suspense file Read the Bill Read CANHR Support Letter

This bill enhances the state nursing home enforcement system by: 1) increasing the penalties for state citations issued against nursing homes to keep up with inflation and 2) updating the criteria for AA citations (those that cause the death of a resident) from the old “direct proximate cause of death’ standard to the more clear “substantial factor” standard used by courts.

This bill would require the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) to expand the reporting information related to newly covered individuals. who engage in offering financial products. CANHR believes that the additional information that AB 447 mandates is common sense and will increase consumer protection. Status: Passed Assembly and Ordered to Senate Read the Bill Read CANHR Support Letter

This bill would eliminate the Medi-Cal asset test. Status: Referred to Assembly Appropriations Suspense File Read the Bill Read CANHR Support Letter

This bill would amend the rights of residents of RCFEs, in those facilities with existing internet service, to add the right to have available at least one internet access tool with videoconference technology as part of the facility’s activity program. Status: Referred to Assembly Appropriations Suspense File Read the Bill Download Fact Sheet Sample Support Letter

25% of California’s COVID deaths have occurred in nursing homes. Many of these deaths could have been prevented with modest training for medical directors. Medical directors are physicians who lead the clinical care and help set the facility culture in nursing homes. Some facilities have medical directors who lack the qualifications for the job. This bill would prohibit a skilled nursing facility from contracting with a medical director if the person is not, or will not be within 5 years, certified by the American Board of Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine as a Certified Medical Director.

This bill would increase the monthly maintenance need allowance for long-term care Medi-Cal beneficiaries from $35 to $85. Status: Referred to Assembly Appropriations Suspense File Read the Bill Read CANHR Support Letter

Since 1982, California nursing home residents have had a “private right of action” (the ability to sue) for violations of their rights. Last year, the state Supreme Court ruled that nursing homes that violate the rights of residents may only be held liable for $500 maximum, regardless of how many rights a facility violates and how egregious those violations are.

Nursing homes investors are increasingly setting up “related party” businesses to avoid accountability and hide profits. AB 1042 would help counter that trend by establishing shared standards and liability for entities that have shared ownership and control. Status: Ordered to Assembly 3rd reading Read the Bill

This bill would extend eligibility for full-scope Medi-Cal benefits to undocumented individuals who are 65 or older. Status: Referred to Senate Appropriations Suspense File   Read the Bill Read CANHR Support Letter

This bill would make the California Community Care Transitions Program permanent, and reduce the time needed for an applicant to be considered “institutionalized” to 60 days spent in a Skilled Nursing Facility. Status: Passed the Senate and Ordered to Appropriations Read the Bill Read CANHR Support Letter

This bill would create the Office of the Patient Representative to train and oversee patient representatives to protect the rights of nursing home residents who allegedly lack capacity to make decisions and have no surrogate decisionmaker available. Status: Hearing in Senate Appropriations Committee on 5/20/21 Read the Bill Read CANHR Support Letter

This bill would permit damages for a decedent’s pain, suffering, or disfigurement to be recovered in an action brought by the decedent’s personal representative or successor in interest. Status: Passed Senate and Ordered to Assembly Read the Bill

This bill would create a pilot program to permit certain adult residential facilities (ARFs) and residential care facilities for the elderly (RCFEs) to be eligible to receive a stipend of $1,000 per month per resident on SSI.    Status: Referred to Senate Appropriations Committee Read the Bill Download Fact Sheet Sample Support Letter Read CANHR Support Letter

This bill would allow conservatees to seek representation by their preferred attorney, even if the attorney is not on the court’s list of approved attorneys. Status: Referred to Senate Appropriations Suspense File Read the Bill