CHAPTER 368v
HEALTH CARE INSTITUTIONS

      Sec. 19a-486. Sale of nonprofit hospitals: Definitions. For purposes of sections 19a-486 to 19a-486h, inclusive:

      (1) "Nonprofit hospital" means a nonprofit entity licensed as a hospital pursuant to this chapter and any entity affiliated with such a hospital through governance or membership, including, but not limited to, a holding company or subsidiary.

      (2) "Purchaser" means a person acquiring any assets of a nonprofit hospital through a transfer.

      (3) "Person" means any individual, firm, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, association or other entity.

      (4) "Transfer" means to sell, transfer, lease, exchange, option, convey, give or otherwise dispose of or transfer control over, including, but not limited to, transfer by way of merger or joint venture not in the ordinary course of business.

      (5) "Control" has the meaning assigned to it in section 36b-41.

      (6) "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Public Health or the commissioner's designee.

      (P.A. 97-188, S. 1, 10; P.A. 98-36, S. 4; P.A. 03-73, S. 1; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3, S. 33.)

      History: P.A. 97-188 effective June 26, 1997; P.A. 98-36 made a technical correction, deleting reference to nonprofit health care center in Subdiv. (2); P.A. 03-73 added Subdiv. (6) defining "commissioner"; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3 redefined "commissioner" in Subdiv. (6), effective October 6, 2009.

      Sec. 19a-486g. Sale of nonprofit hospitals: Denial of license. The Commissioner of Public Health shall refuse to issue a license to, or if issued shall suspend or revoke the license of, a hospital if the commissioner finds, after a hearing and opportunity to be heard, that:

      (1) There was a transaction described in section 19a-486a that occurred without the approval of the commissioner, if such approval was required by sections 19a-486 to 19a-486h, inclusive;

      (2) There was a transaction described in section 19a-486a without the approval of the Attorney General, if such approval was required by sections 19a-486 to 19a-486h, inclusive, and the Attorney General certifies to the Commissioner of Public Health that such transaction involved a material amount of the nonprofit hospital's assets or operations or a change in control of operations; or

      (3) The hospital is not complying with the terms of an agreement approved by the Attorney General and commissioner pursuant to sections 19a-486 to 19a-486h, inclusive.

      (P.A. 97-188, S. 8, 10; P.A. 98-36, S. 7; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3, S. 34.)

      History: P.A. 97-188 effective June 26, 1997; P.A. 98-36 made a technical correction, deleting "nonprofit" before "hospital"; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3 amended Subdiv. (1) by replacing provisions re duties of Commissioner of Health Care Access with provision re duty of Commissioner of Public Health, effective October 6, 2009.

      Sec. 19a-486h. Sale of nonprofit hospitals: Construction of governing law. Nothing in sections 19a-486 to 19a-486h, inclusive, shall be construed to limit: (1) The common law or statutory authority of the Attorney General; (2) the statutory authority of the Commissioner of Public Health including, but not limited to, licensing and certificate of need authority; or (3) the application of the doctrine of cy pres or approximation.

      (P.A. 97-188, S. 9, 10; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3, S. 35.)

      History: P.A. 97-188 effective June 26, 1997; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3 amended Subdiv. (2) by deleting reference to authority of Commissioner of the Office of Health Care Access, effective October 6, 2009.

      Sec. 19a-491. (Formerly Sec. 19-577). License and certificate required. Application. Fees. Minimum service quality standards. Regulations. (a) No person acting individually or jointly with any other person shall establish, conduct, operate or maintain an institution in this state without a license as required by this chapter, except for persons issued a license by the Commissioner of Children and Families pursuant to section 17a-145 for the operation of (1) a substance abuse treatment facility, or (2) a facility for the purpose of caring for women during pregnancies and for women and their infants following such pregnancies. Application for such license shall be made to the Department of Public Health upon forms provided by it and shall contain such information as the department requires, which may include affirmative evidence of ability to comply with reasonable standards and regulations prescribed under the provisions of this chapter. The commissioner may require as a condition of licensure that an applicant sign a consent order providing reasonable assurances of compliance with the Public Health Code. The commissioner may issue more than one chronic disease hospital license to a single institution until such time as the state offers a rehabilitation hospital license.

      (b) If any person acting individually or jointly with any other person shall own real property or any improvements thereon, upon or within which an institution, as defined in subsection (c) of section 19a-490, is established, conducted, operated or maintained and is not the licensee of the institution, such person shall submit a copy of the lease agreement to the department at the time of any change of ownership and with each license renewal application. The lease agreement shall, at a minimum, identify the person or entity responsible for the maintenance and repair of all buildings and structures within which such an institution is established, conducted or operated. If a violation is found as a result of an inspection or investigation, the commissioner may require the owner to sign a consent order providing assurances that repairs or improvements necessary for compliance with the provisions of the Public Health Code shall be completed within a specified period of time. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to any property or improvements owned by a person licensed in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of this section to establish, conduct, operate or maintain an institution on or within such property or improvements.

      (c) Notwithstanding any regulation to the contrary, the Commissioner of Public Health shall charge the following fees for the biennial licensing and inspection of the following institutions: (1) Chronic and convalescent nursing homes, per site, four hundred forty dollars; (2) chronic and convalescent nursing homes, per bed, five dollars; (3) rest homes with nursing supervision, per site, four hundred forty dollars; (4) rest homes with nursing supervision, per bed, five dollars; (5) outpatient dialysis units and outpatient surgical facilities, six hundred twenty-five dollars; (6) mental health residential facilities, per site, three hundred seventy-five dollars; (7) mental health residential facilities, per bed, five dollars; (8) hospitals, per site, nine hundred forty dollars; (9) hospitals, per bed, seven dollars and fifty cents; (10) nonstate agency educational institutions, per infirmary, one hundred fifty dollars; and (11) nonstate agency educational institutions, per infirmary bed, twenty-five dollars.

      (d) Notwithstanding any regulation, the commissioner shall charge the following fees for the triennial licensing and inspection of the following institutions: (1) Residential care homes, per site, five hundred sixty-five dollars; and (2) residential care homes, per bed, four dollars and fifty cents.

      (e) Notwithstanding any regulation, the commissioner shall charge the following fees for the licensing and inspection every four years of the following institutions: (1) Outpatient clinics that provide either medical or mental health service, and well-child clinics, except those operated by municipal health departments, health districts or licensed nonprofit nursing or community health agencies, one thousand dollars; (2) maternity homes, per site, two hundred dollars; and (3) maternity homes, per bed, ten dollars.

      (f) The commissioner shall charge a fee of five hundred sixty-five dollars for the technical assistance provided for the design, review and development of an institution's construction, sale or change in ownership.

      (g) The commissioner may require as a condition of the licensure of home health care agencies and homemaker-home health aide agencies that each agency meet minimum service quality standards. In the event the commissioner requires such agencies to meet minimum service quality standards as a condition of their licensure, the commissioner shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to define such minimum service quality standards, which shall (1) allow for training of homemaker-home health aides by adult continuing education, (2) require a registered nurse to visit and assess each patient receiving homemaker-home health aide services as often as necessary based on the patient's condition, but not less than once every sixty days, and (3) require the assessment prescribed by subdivision (2) of this subsection to be completed while the homemaker-home health aide is providing services in the patient's home.

      (1953, 1955, S. 2052d; P.A. 77-601, S. 9, 11; 77-614, S. 323, 610; P.A. 79-610, S. 23; P.A. 80-127, S. 1; P.A. 84-546, S. 167, 173; P.A. 85-588, S. 1; P.A. 89-350, S. 6; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-6, S. 14, 117; P.A. 93-74, S. 44, 67; 93-201, S. 9, 24; 93-381, S. 9, 39; 93-415, S. 9; P.A. 94-196, S. 1, 2; P.A. 95-160, S. 12, 69; 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 96-139, S. 12, 13; P.A. 97-112, S. 2; 97-297; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-3, S. 28; P.A. 05-64, S. 1; P.A. 09-197, S. 1; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3, S. 177.)

      History: Sec. 19-33 transferred to Sec. 19-577 in 1977; P.A. 77-601 added exception re continued operation of certain facilities in operation as of January 1, 1979; P.A. 77-614 replaced department of health with department of health services, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 79-610 added Subsec. (b) re validity of certain licenses issued before October 1, 1979; P.A. 80-127 added Subsec. (c) re certificate of compliance with public health code; Sec. 19-577 transferred to Sec. 19a-491 in 1983; P.A. 84-546 made technical change to Subsec. (a), deleting obsolete provision re home health care agency, homemaker-home health aide agency or coordination, assessment and monitoring agency in operation on January 1, 1979; P.A. 85-588 added Subsec. (d) to include in the definition of "institution" any person or agency who advertises, arranges or provides homemaker-home health aides or services in a patient's home; P.A. 89-350 added the language on consent orders, deleted former Subsec. (b) re period of validity for licenses and renewal and relettered the remaining Subsecs. and changed "annually" to "biennially" in Subsec. (b); May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-6 added new Subsec. (d) to establish fees for biennial licensing and inspection of chronic and convalescent nursing homes, rest homes with nursing supervision, homes for the aged, ambulatory facilities, mental health residential facilities, hospitals, nonstate agency educational facilities and for technical assistance for design, review and development; P.A. 93-74 amended Subsec. (d) by exempting municipal health departments, health districts or licensed nursing or community health and well-child clinics from the biennial licensing and inspection fees, by reducing educational institution infirmary fee from $500 to $75 and by instituting a per-bed charge of $25, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 93-201 amended Subsec. (d)(13) to add "infirmary", effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 93-381 replaced department and commissioner of health services with department and commissioner of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 93-415 added Subsec. (e) authorizing commissioner to develop minimum service quality standards; P.A. 94-196 amended Subsec. (a) to authorize issuance of more than one chronic disease hospital license to a single institution until the state offers a rehabilitation hospital license, effective June 9, 1994 (Revisor's note: In 1995 the words "said chapter and sections" were replaced editorially by the Revisors with "this chapter"); P.A. 95-160 amended Subsec. (e) by deleting a reference to coordination, assessment and monitoring agencies and made a technical change, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 96-139 changed effective date of P.A. 95-160 but without affecting this section; P.A. 97-112 replaced "homes for the aged" with "residential care homes"; P.A. 97-297 amended Subsec. (e) to add provision re training of homemaker-home health care aides by continuing education; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-3 amended Subsec. (b) by requiring submittal of a lease agreement and deleting provisions re biennial issuance of certificate of compliance with Public Health Code, deleted former Subsec. (c) defining "institution", redesignating existing Subsec. (d) as new Subsec. (c) and adding licensing and inspection requirement for outpatient dialysis units and outpatient surgical facilities, deleting references to residential care homes and ambulatory facilities and deleting provision re technical assistance fee, added new Subsec. (d) to change license renewal for residential care homes from biennially to triennially and to increase fees from $300 per site and $3 per bed to $450 per site and $4.50 per bed, added new Subsec. (e) to require license renewal and inspection with fees every four years for outpatient clinics and maternity homes, added new Subsec. (f) re technical assistance fee, redesignated existing Subsec. (e) as new Subsec. (g) and made technical changes, effective January 1, 2004; P.A. 05-64 amended Subsec. (g) by designating existing language re regulations allowing for training as Subdiv. (1), making technical changes and adding new Subdivs. (1) and (2) re additional requirements for regulations establishing minimum service quality standards, effective June 2, 2005; P.A. 09-197 amended Subsec. (a) by adding exception for certain facilities licensed by the Commissioner of Children and Families, effective July 1, 2009; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3 amended Subsecs. (c), (d) and (f) to increase fees.

      Sec. 19a-493. (Formerly Sec. 19-578). Issuance and renewal of license. Provisional license. Scheduled and unscheduled inspections. Annual report. Change of ownership. (a) Upon receipt of an application for an initial license, the Department of Public Health, subject to the provisions of section 19a-491a, shall issue such license if, upon conducting a scheduled inspection and investigation, it finds that the applicant and facilities meet the requirements established under section 19a-495, provided a license shall be issued to or renewed for an institution, as defined in subsection (d), (e) or (f) of section 19a-490, only if such institution is not otherwise required to be licensed by the state. Upon receipt of an application for an initial license to establish, conduct, operate or maintain an institution, as defined in subsection (d), (e) or (f) of section 19a-490, and prior to the issuance of such license, the commissioner may issue a provisional license for a term not to exceed twelve months upon such terms and conditions as the commissioner may require. If an institution, as defined in subsections (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f) of section 19a-490, applies for license renewal and has been certified as a provider of services by the United States Department of Health and Human Services under Medicare or Medicaid programs within the immediately preceding twelve-month period, or if an institution, as defined in subsection (b) of section 19a-490, is currently certified, the commissioner or the commissioner's designee may waive the inspection and investigation of such facility required by this section and, in such event, any such facility shall be deemed to have satisfied the requirements of section 19a-495 for the purposes of licensure. Such license shall be valid for two years or a fraction thereof and shall terminate on March thirty-first, June thirtieth, September thirtieth or December thirty-first of the appropriate year. A license issued pursuant to this chapter, other than a provisional license or a nursing home license, unless sooner suspended or revoked, shall be renewable biennially after an unscheduled inspection is conducted by the department, and upon the filing by the licensee, and approval by the department, of a report upon such date and containing such information in such form as the department prescribes and satisfactory evidence of continuing compliance with requirements, and in the case of an institution, as defined in subsection (d), (e) or (f) of section 19a-490, after inspection of such institution by the department unless such institution is also certified as a provider under the Medicare program and such inspection would result in more frequent reviews than are required under the Medicare program for home health agencies. Each license shall be issued only for the premises and persons named in the application and shall not be transferable or assignable. Licenses shall be posted in a conspicuous place in the licensed premises.

      (b) (1) A nursing home license may be renewed biennially after (A) an unscheduled inspection conducted by the department, (B) submission of the information required by subsections (a) and (c) of section 19a-491a and any other information required by the commissioner pursuant to subsection (b) of said section, and (C) submission of evidence satisfactory to the department that the nursing home is in compliance with the provisions of this chapter, the Public Health Code and licensing regulations.

      (2) Any change in the ownership of a facility or institution, as defined in subsection (c) of section 19a-490, owned by an individual, partnership or association or the change in ownership or beneficial ownership of ten per cent or more of the stock of a corporation which owns, conducts, operates or maintains such facility or institution, shall be subject to prior approval of the department after a scheduled inspection of such facility or institution is conducted by the department, provided such approval shall be conditioned upon a showing by such facility or institution to the commissioner that it has complied with all requirements of this chapter, the regulations relating to licensure and all applicable requirements of the Public Health Code. Any such change in ownership or beneficial ownership resulting in a transfer to a person related by blood or marriage to such an owner or beneficial owner shall not be subject to prior approval of the department unless: (A) Ownership or beneficial ownership of ten per cent or more of the stock of a corporation, partnership or association which owns, conducts, operates or maintains more than one facility or institution is transferred; (B) ownership or beneficial ownership is transferred in more than one facility or institution; or (C) the facility or institution is the subject of a pending complaint, investigation or licensure action. If the facility or institution is not in compliance, the commissioner may require the new owner to sign a consent order providing reasonable assurances that the violations shall be corrected within a specified period of time. Notice of any such proposed change of ownership shall be given to the department at least ninety days prior to the effective date of such proposed change. For the purposes of this subdivision, "a person related by blood or marriage" means a parent, spouse, child, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, niece or nephew. For the purposes of this subdivision, a change in the legal form of the ownership entity, including, but not limited to, changes from a corporation to a limited liability company, a partnership to a limited liability partnership, a sole proprietorship to a corporation and similar changes, shall not be considered a change of ownership if the beneficial ownership remains unchanged and the owner provides such information regarding the change to the department as may be required by the department in order to properly identify the current status of ownership and beneficial ownership of the facility or institution. For the purposes of this subdivision, a public offering of the stock of any corporation that owns, conducts, operates or maintains any such facility or institution shall not be considered a change in ownership or beneficial ownership of such facility or institution if the licensee and the officers and directors of such corporation remain unchanged, such public offering cannot result in an individual or entity owning ten per cent or more of the stock of such corporation, and the owner provides such information to the department as may be required by the department in order to properly identify the current status of ownership and beneficial ownership of the facility or institution.

      (1953, 1955, S. 2053d; P.A. 77-304, S. 4; 77-601, S. 3, 11; 77-614, S. 323, 587, 610; P.A. 78-303, S. 85, 136; P.A. 79-46, S. 2, 3; P.A. 80-17; 80-199; P.A. 81-135; 81-201, S. 1; P.A. 84-546, S. 168, 173; P.A. 85-146, S. 2, 4; P.A. 89-350, S. 7; P.A. 90-13, S. 7; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-8, S. 28, 63; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 99-2, S. 15, 72; P.A. 00-10; P.A. 05-272, S. 6; P.A. 09-232, S. 14.)

      History: Sec. 19-34 transferred to Sec. 19-578 in 1977; P.A. 77-304 added provisions re report of portions of federal income tax information as condition for license renewal and re notice and approval of proposed changes in ownership; P.A. 77-601 added provisions re approval and inspection of institutions required for issuance and renewal, respectively, of licenses; P.A. 77-614 and P.A. 78-303 replaced commissioner and department of health commissioner and department of health services, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 79-46 rephrased proviso re license issuance or renewal and allowed issuance or renewal only if institution not otherwise required to be licensed by state; P.A. 80-17 allowed waiver of inspection and investigation if currently certified as provider of services by U.S. Department of Health and Human Resources or certified within last 12 months; P.A. 80-199 rephrased provision re prior approval of change in ownership; P.A. 81-135 specified that inspections conducted by the department of health services prior to the initial licensure of a facility or prior to the transfer of ownership of a nursing home shall be "scheduled" inspections and that inspections conducted for purposes of license renewal shall be "unscheduled"; P.A. 81-201 replaced requirement that a nursing home owner submit pertinent portions of his personal Federal Income Tax for purposes of annual license renewal with authorization for the department of health services to require the submission of "information related to the character and financial condition" of the owner; Sec. 19-578 transferred to Sec. 19a-493 in 1983; P.A. 84-546 made technical changes; P.A. 85-146 authorized the issuance of provisional licenses; P.A. 89-350 divided the existing section into Subsecs. (a) and (b), provided for biennial licensure, added the language in Subsec. (b) on requirements for the renewal of a nursing home license and on consent orders and made technical changes; P.A. 90-13 made technical change in Subsec. (a); June Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-8 amended Subsec. (b) to specify when changes re transfer or change of ownership to relatives are not subject to department approval and defined "a person related by blood or marriage"; P.A. 93-381 replaced department of health services with department of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 99-2 amended Subsec. (b) by expanding definition of "a person related by blood or marriage" to include a "brother, sister, aunt, uncle, niece or nephew" and by adding provision re change in legal form of ownership entity, effective June 29, 1999; P.A. 00-10 made technical changes and added provisions re a public offering of stock that shall not be considered a change in ownership or beneficial ownership; P.A. 05-272 amended Subsec. (a) to remove "without charge" re biennial renewal of certain health care institution licenses; P.A. 09-232 amended Subsec. (a) by substituting United States Department of Health and Human Services for United States Department of Health and Human Resources and by adding exception re frequency of Department of Public Health inspections for Medicare-certified provider institutions, effective July 1, 2009.

      Sec. 19a-495a. Unlicensed assistive personnel in residential care homes. Certification re administration of medication. Regulations. Nonnursing duties. (a)(1) The Commissioner of Public Health shall adopt regulations, as provided in subsection (d) of this section, to require each residential care home, as defined in section 19a-490, that admits residents requiring assistance with medication administration, to (A) designate unlicensed personnel to obtain certification for the administration of medication, and (B) to ensure that such unlicensed personnel receive such certification.

      (2) The regulations shall establish criteria to be used by such homes in determining (A) the appropriate number of unlicensed personnel who shall obtain such certification, and (B) training requirements, including on-going training requirements for such certification. Training requirements shall include, but shall not be limited to: Initial orientation, resident rights, identification of the types of medication that may be administered by unlicensed personnel, behavioral management, personal care, nutrition and food safety, and health and safety in general.

      (b) Each residential care home, as defined in section 19a-490, shall ensure that, on or before January 1, 2010, an appropriate number of unlicensed personnel, as determined by the residential care home, obtain certification for the administration of medication. Certification of such personnel shall be in accordance with regulations adopted pursuant to this section. Unlicensed personnel obtaining such certification may administer medications that are not administered by injection to residents of such homes, unless a resident's physician specifies that a medication only be administered by licensed personnel.

      (c) On and after October 1, 2007, unlicensed assistive personnel employed in residential care homes, as defined in section 19a-490, may (1) obtain and document residents' blood pressures and temperatures with digital medical instruments that (A) contain internal decision-making electronics, microcomputers or special software that allow the instruments to interpret physiologic signals, and (B) do not require the user to employ any discretion or judgment in their use; (2) obtain and document residents' weight; and (3) assist residents in the use of glucose monitors to obtain and document their blood glucose levels.

      (d) The Commissioner of Public Health may implement policies and procedures necessary to administer the provisions of this section while in the process of adopting such policies and procedures as regulation, provided the commissioner prints notice of intent to adopt regulations in the Connecticut Law Journal not later than twenty days after the date of implementation. Policies and procedures implemented pursuant to this section shall be valid until the time final regulations are adopted.

      (P.A. 99-80, S. 1; P.A. 07-76, S. 1; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-5, S. 44.)

      History: P.A. 07-76 designated existing provisions as Subsec. (a) and added Subsec. (b) to authorize the use of unlicensed assistive personnel for certain duties in residential care homes; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-5 amended Subsec. (a) by dividing existing provisions into Subdivs. (1) and (2) and, in Subdiv. (1), by removing reference to July 1, 2000, replacing reference to adoption of regulations in accordance with Ch. 54 with reference to Subsec. (d), adding provision re home that admits residents requiring assistance with medication administration and adding provisions re regulations to designate unlicensed personnel to obtain certification and to ensure receipt of certification and, in Subdiv. (2), by adding provisions re regulations to establish number of unlicensed personnel to obtain certification and training requirements to include identification of types of medication to be administered by unlicensed personnel, added new Subsec. (b) requiring each residential care home to ensure an appropriate number of unlicensed personnel obtain certification and specifying that certified personnel may administer medications not administered by injection and not required by a resident's physician to be administered by licensed personnel, redesignated existing Subsec. (b) as Subsec. (c) and added Subsec. (d) allowing Commissioner of Public Health to implement policies and procedures while in the process of adopting regulations, effective October 5, 2009.

      Sec. 19a-498. (Formerly Sec. 19-582). Inspections, investigations, examinations and audits. Retention of records. (a) Subject to the provisions of section 19a-493, the Department of Public Health shall make or cause to be made a biennial licensure inspection of all institutions and such other inspections and investigations of institutions and examination of their records as the department deems necessary.

      (b) The commissioner, or an agent authorized by the commissioner to conduct any inquiry, investigation or hearing under the provisions of this chapter, shall have power to inspect the premises of an institution, administer oaths and take testimony under oath relative to the matter of inquiry or investigation. At any hearing ordered by the department, the commissioner or such agent may subpoena witnesses and require the production of records, papers and documents pertinent to such inquiry. If any person disobeys such subpoena or, having appeared in obedience thereto, refuses to answer any pertinent question put to such person by the commissioner or such agent or to produce any records and papers pursuant to the subpoena, the commissioner or such agent may apply to the superior court for the judicial district of Hartford or for the judicial district wherein the person resides or wherein the business has been conducted, setting forth such disobedience or refusal, and said court shall cite such person to appear before said court to answer such question or to produce such records and papers.

      (c) The Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, with respect to any mental health facility or alcohol or drug treatment facility, shall be authorized, either upon the request of the Commissioner of Public Health or at such other times as they deem necessary, to enter such facility for the purpose of inspecting programs conducted at such facility. A written report of the findings of any such inspection shall be forwarded to the Commissioner of Public Health and a copy shall be maintained in such facility's licensure file.

      (d) In addition, when the Commissioner of Social Services deems it necessary, said commissioner, or a designated representative of said commissioner, may examine and audit the financial records of any nursing home facility, as defined in section 19a-521. Each such nursing home facility shall retain all financial information, data and records relating to the operation of the nursing home facility for a period of not less than ten years, and all financial information, data and records relating to any real estate transactions affecting such operation, for a period of not less than twenty-five years, which financial information, data and records shall be made available, upon request, to the Commissioner of Social Services or such designated representative at all reasonable times.

      (1953, 1955, S. 2057d; P.A. 77-593, S. 1, 4; 77-614, S. 323, 587, 608, 610; P.A. 78-303, S. 85, 136; P.A. 79-610, S. 25; P.A. 80-92; P.A. 82-210, S. 1, 2; P.A. 88-230, S. 1, 12; P.A. 89-350, S. 9; P.A. 90-98, S. 1, 2; P.A. 93-142, S. 4, 7, 8; 93-262, S. 1, 87; 93-381, S. 34, 39; P.A. 95-220, S. 4-6; 95-257, S. 11, 12, 21, 26, 39, 58; P.A. 01-57, S. 2; 01-195, S. 154, 181; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3, S. 36.)

      History: Sec. 19-38 transferred to Sec. 19-582 in 1977; P.A. 77-593 added Subsec. (b) re audits; P.A. 77-614 and P.A. 78-303 replaced department of health with department of health services and commissioner of social services with commissioner of income maintenance, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 79-610 added provisions re annual inspections of mental health facilities or alcohol or drug treatment facilities; P.A. 80-92 replaced alcohol and drug abuse council with alcohol and drug abuse commission; P.A. 82-210 replaced previous specific provisions re personnel to conduct annual and interim inspections with new provisions in Subsecs. (a) and (b), relettering former Subsec. (b) as (c); Sec. 19-582 transferred to Sec. 19a-498 in 1983; P.A. 89-350 added a new Subsec. (b) re investigatory powers and relettered the remaining Subsecs., replaced "annual" with "biennial" in Subsec. (a) and made technical changes Revisor's note: P.A. 88-230 authorized substitution of "judicial district of Hartford" for "judicial district of Hartford-New Britain" in 1989 public and special acts, effective September 1, 1991); P.A. 90-98 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1991, to September 1, 1993; P.A. 93-142 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1993, to September 1, 1996, effective June 14, 1993; P.A. 93-262 authorized substitution of commissioner and department of social services for commissioner and department of income maintenance, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 93-381 replaced commissioner and department of health services with commissioner and department of public health and addiction services, amended Subsec. (a) re notice of biennial inspection or investigation of an alcohol or drug treatment facility and amended Subsec. (c) to remove reference to Connecticut alcohol and drug abuse commission, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-220 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1996, to September 1, 1998, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, replaced Commissioner and Department of Mental Health with Commissioner and Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, replaced Commission on Hospitals and Health Care with Office of Health Care Access and amended Subsec. (c) to include alcohol or drug treatment facilities, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 01-57 made technical changes in Subsec. (c); P.A. 01-195 made technical changes in Subsecs. (a) to (d), effective July 11, 2001; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3 amended Subsec. (d) by eliminating provision that permitted Commissioner of Health Care Access to request that Commissioner of Social Services examine and audit financial records of a nursing home and by making conforming changes, effective October 6, 2009.

      Sec. 19a-498b. Nursing homes. Admission of residents who have been administered a level two assessment. Annual survey by Department of Public Health to include comparison between recommended services and actual services. Responsibilities of nursing home administrators and Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. (a) The Department of Public Health, when conducting its annual survey of a nursing home that has admitted a resident or residents who have been administered a level two assessment, shall compare the services recommended for any such resident in the level two assessment with the actual services being provided to such resident as reflected in such resident's plan of care. The department shall include the results of any such comparison, as well as any regulatory violations found by the department during an inspection, in the survey of such nursing home.

      (b) A nursing home administrator, or a designee of the nursing home administrator, shall notify the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services not later than fourteen days after the date of admission of any individual who has been administered a level two assessment which confirms a psychiatric diagnosis. Within available appropriations, the department shall consult with the staff of a nursing home concerning the status and discharge of those individuals who are clients of the department. The department shall, within available appropriations, protect to the fullest extent possible, the existing housing of any client of the department, who is identified in a level two assessment as being in need of a short-term admission to a nursing home of ninety days or less.

      (P.A. 08-184, S. 57; P.A. 09-11, S. 6.)

      History: P.A. 08-184 effective June 12, 2008; P.A. 09-11 made a technical change in Subsec. (a).

      Sec. 19a-506. (Formerly Sec. 19-589). Licensing of maternity homes. Fees. Section 19a-506 is repealed, effective July 1, 2009.

      (1959, P.A. 658; P.A. 76-436, S. 378, 681; P.A. 77-603, S. 69, 125; 77-614, S. 323, 610; P.A. 78-280, S. 1, 127; P.A. 83-121, S. 1, 2; P.A. 89-339, S. 3, 6; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-6, S. 15, 117; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 09-197, S. 3.)

      Sec. 19a-507. (Formerly Sec. 19-589a). New Horizons independent living facility for severely physically disabled adults. (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of chapter 368z, New Horizons, Inc., a nonprofit, nonsectarian organization, or a subsidiary organization controlled by New Horizons, Inc., is authorized to construct and operate an independent living facility for severely physically disabled adults, in the town of Farmington, provided such facility shall be constructed in accordance with applicable building codes. The Farmington Housing Authority, or any issuer acting on behalf of said authority, subject to the provisions of this section, may issue tax-exempt revenue bonds on a competitive or negotiated basis for the purpose of providing construction and permanent mortgage financing for the facility in accordance with Section 103 of the Internal Revenue Code. Prior to the issuance of such bonds, plans for the construction of the facility shall be submitted to and approved by the Office of Health Care Access. The office shall approve or disapprove such plans within thirty days of receipt thereof. If the plans are disapproved they may be resubmitted. Failure of the office to act on the plans within such thirty-day period shall be deemed approval thereof. The payments to residents of the facility who are eligible for assistance under the state supplement program for room and board and necessary services, shall be determined annually to be effective July first of each year. Such payments shall be determined on a basis of a reasonable payment for necessary services, which basis shall take into account as a factor the costs of providing those services and such other factors as the commissioner deems reasonable, including anticipated fluctuations in the cost of providing services. Such payments shall be calculated in accordance with the manner in which rates are calculated pursuant to subsection (h) of section 17b-340 and the cost-related reimbursement system pursuant to said section except that efficiency incentives shall not be granted. The commissioner may adjust such rates to account for the availability of personal care services for residents under the Medicaid program. The commissioner shall, upon submission of a request, allow actual debt service, comprised of principal and interest, in excess of property costs allowed pursuant to section 17-313b-5 of the regulations of Connecticut state agencies, provided such debt service terms and amounts are reasonable in relation to the useful life and the base value of the property. The cost basis for such payment shall be subject to audit, and a recomputation of the rate shall be made based upon such audit. The facility shall report on a fiscal year ending on the thirtieth day of September on forms provided by the commissioner. The required report shall be received by the commissioner no later than December thirty-first of each year. The Department of Social Services may use its existing utilization review procedures to monitor utilization of the facility. If the facility is aggrieved by any decision of the commissioner, the facility may, within ten days, after written notice thereof from the commissioner, obtain by written request to the commissioner, a hearing on all items of aggrievement. If the facility is aggrieved by the decision of the commissioner after such hearing, the facility may appeal to the Superior Court in accordance with the provisions of section 4-183.

      (b) The Commissioner of Social Services may provide for work incentive programs for residents of the facility

      (P.A. 77-569, S. 2, 3; 77-614, S. 587, 608, 610; P.A. 78-303, S. 85, 136; P.A. 79-92, S. 1, 2; P.A. 83-482, S. 1, 2; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-8, S. 19, 63; P.A. 93-262, S. 1, 87; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-5, S. 13, 30; P.A. 95-257, S. 39, 58; 95-338, S. 2, 3; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-2, S. 92, 165; P.A. 99-279, S. 26, 45; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-5, S. 35.)

      History: P.A. 77-614 and 78-303 allowed substitution of commissioner of income maintenance for social services commissioner, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 79-92 substituted "account" for "fund" and changed purpose for which account to be used from payment of bonds issued by Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority as stated; Sec. 19-589a transferred to Sec. 19a-507 in 1983; P.A. 83-482 authorized construction of "independent living facility for severely physically disabled adults" rather than of "health care facility for the handicapped", required that construction accord with building codes rather than public health codes, added authority for the issuance of tax-exempt revenue bonds, commission on hospitals and health care's approval of construction plans, payments to residents who are eligible for assistance under Ch. 302, the method for the determination of such payments and the appeal procedure, and also deleted provisions in Subsec. (b) concerning work incentive positions, reimbursement from the state and federal government and an escrow account for patients' earnings; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-8 amended Subsec. (a) to maintain rates paid by the state as of June 30, 1991, through June 30, 1992, except for scheduled decreases; P.A. 93-262 authorized substitution of commissioner and department of social services for commissioner and department of income maintenance, effective July 1, 1993; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-5 amended Subsec. (a) to require commissioner to allow actual debt service in excess of property costs allowed based upon the useful life and base value of the property and deleted provision limiting fair rental value to no more than the sum of building depreciation and reported mortgage interest, effective July 1, 1994; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commission on Hospitals and Health Care with Office of Health Care Access, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 95-338 expanded the exemption for New Horizons, Inc. to include a subsidiary organization, effective July 13, 1995; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-2 amended Subsec. (a) to make a technical change, effective July 1, 1997; P.A. 99-279 amended Subsec. (a) to allow commissioner to adjust rates to account for the availability of personal care services for residents under the Medicaid program, effective July 1, 1999; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-5 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting provision requiring rate in effect June 30, 1991, to remain in effect through June 30, 1992, and inserting reference to Sec. 17b-340(h), effective October 5, 2009.

      Sec. 19a-512. (Formerly Sec. 19-593). Licensure by examination. Minimum requirements. (a) In order to be eligible for licensure by examination pursuant to sections 19a-511 to 19a-520, inclusive, a person shall submit an application, together with a fee of two hundred dollars, and proof satisfactory to the Department of Public Health that he (1) is physically and emotionally capable of administering a nursing home; (2) has satisfactorily completed a program of instruction and training, including residency training which meets the requirements of subsection (b) of this section and which is approved by the Commissioner of Public Health; and (3) has passed an examination prescribed and administered by the Department of Public Health designed to test the applicant's knowledge and competence in the subject matter referred to in subsection (b) of this section. Passing scores shall be established by the department.

      (b) Minimum education and training requirements for applicants for licensure are as follows:

      (1) Each person other than an applicant for renewal, applying prior to February 1, 1985, shall have completed: (A) A program so designed as to content and so administered as to present sufficient knowledge of the needs to be properly served by nursing homes, laws and regulations governing the operation of nursing homes and the protection of the interest of patients therein and the elements of good nursing home administration, or presented evidence satisfactory to the Department of Public Health of sufficient education and training in the foregoing fields; and (B) a one-year residency period under the joint supervision of a duly licensed nursing home administrator in an authorized nursing home and an accredited institution of higher education, approved by said department, which period may correspond to one academic year in such accredited institution. The supervising administrator shall submit such reports as may be required by the department on the performance and progress of such administrator-in-training, on forms provided by the department. This subdivision shall not apply to any person who has successfully completed a program of study for a master's degree in nursing home administration or in a related health care field and who has been awarded such degree from an accredited institution of higher learning.

      (2) Each such person applying on or after February 1, 1985, in addition to the requirements of subdivision (1) of this subsection, shall either (A) have a baccalaureate degree in any area and have completed a course in long-term care administration approved by the department, or (B) have a master's degree in long-term care administration or in a related health care field approved by the commissioner.

      (c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b) of this section, the Department of Public Health shall renew the license of any person licensed as a nursing home administrator on July 1, 1983.

      (1969, P.A. 754, S. 5; 1972, P.A. 127, S. 36; P.A. 77-287, S. 2; 77-574, S. 1, 6; P.A. 80-484, S. 6, 176; P.A. 83-263, S. 1, 4; P.A. 84-135, S. 1, 3; P.A. 89-251, S. 70, 203; 89-350, S. 19, 21; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 07-217, S. 80; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3, S. 178.)

      History: 1972 act changed applicable age from 21 to 18 reflecting changed age of majority; Sec. 19-42c transferred to Sec. 19-593 in 1977; P.A. 77-287 changed language, added proviso re residency periods, replaced semiannual reports with reports "as may be required by the board" and updated obsolete date reference; P.A. 77-574 increased application fee from $25 to $50; P.A. 80-484 replaced "board", i.e. board of licensure of nursing home administrators, with department and commissioner of health services and provided that department establish passing scores; Sec. 19-593 transferred to Sec. 19a-512 in 1983; P.A. 83-263 amended Subsec. (a) to add residency training to the required program of instruction and training and deleted existing program requirements and added Subsecs. (b) and (c) to add new license requirements; P.A. 84-135 amended Subsecs. (b) and (c) to change July 1, 1985, to February 1, 1985, in Subdivs. (1) and (2), and to add the requirement for a master's degree for applicants after February 1, 1985, and excepted from the provisions of Subsec. (b) all applicants for renewal who were licensed on July 1, 1983; P.A. 89-251 increased fee in Subsec. (a) from $50 to $100; P.A. 89-350 amended Subsec. (b)(1) by removing language requiring the administrator-in-training to register with the department and (b)(2) by removing requirement that the person apply prior to July 1, 1987, by changing requirement to "either (A) or (B)" rather than "(A) and (B)" and removing requirement in (B) that the master's degree be obtained prior to July 1, 1994, and deleted obsolete subdivisions; P.A. 93-381 replaced department and commissioner of health services with department and commissioner of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 07-217 made technical changes in Subsec. (b)(2), effective July 12, 2007; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3 amended Subsec. (a) to increase fee from $100 to $200.

      Sec. 19a-513. (Formerly Sec. 19-594). Licensure by endorsement. In order to be eligible for licensure by endorsement pursuant to sections 19a-511 to 19a-520, inclusive, a person shall submit an application for endorsement licensure on a form provided by the department, together with a fee of two hundred dollars, and meet the following requirements: (1) Have completed preparation in another jurisdiction equal to that required in this state; (2) hold a license as a nursing home administrator by examination in another state; and (3) be a currently practicing competent practitioner in a state whose licensure requirements are substantially similar to or higher than those of this state. No license shall be issued under this section to any applicant against whom disciplinary action is pending or who is the subject of an unresolved complaint.

      (1969, P.A. 754, S. 6; P.A. 80-484, S. 7, 176; P.A. 89-251, S. 71, 203; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-6, S. 16, 117; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3, S. 179.)

      History: Sec. 19-42d transferred to Sec. 19-594 in 1977; P.A. 80-484 replaced "board", i.e. licensure board for nursing home administrators with "department", i.e. health services department, added Subdiv. (3) and prohibited issuance of license to person against whom disciplinary action is pending or who is subject of unresolved complaint; Sec. 19-594 transferred to Sec. 19a-513 in 1983; P.A. 89-251 increased the fee from $25 to $50; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-6 raised fee to $100; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3 increased fee from $100 to $200.

      Sec. 19a-515. (Formerly Sec. 19-596). License renewal. Continuing education requirement. (a) Each nursing home administrator's license issued pursuant to the provisions of sections 19a-511 to 19a-520, inclusive, shall be renewed once every two years, in accordance with section 19a-88, except for cause, by the Department of Public Health, upon forms to be furnished by said department and upon the payment to said department, by each applicant for license renewal, of the sum of two hundred dollars. Each such fee shall be remitted to the Department of Public Health on or before the date prescribed under section 19a-88. Such renewals shall be granted unless said department finds the applicant has acted or failed to act in such a manner or under such circumstances as would constitute grounds for suspension or revocation of such license.

      (b) Each licensee shall complete a minimum of forty hours of continuing education every two years. Such two-year period shall commence on the first date of renewal of the licensee's license after January 1, 2004. The continuing education shall be in areas related to the licensee's practice. Qualifying continuing education activities are courses offered or approved by the Connecticut Association of Healthcare Facilities, the Connecticut Association of Not-For-Profit Providers for the Aging, the Connecticut Assisted Living Association, the Connecticut Alliance for Subacute Care, Inc., the Connecticut Chapter of the American College of Health Care Administrators, the Association For Long Term Care Financial Managers or any accredited college or university, or programs presented or approved by the National Continuing Education Review Service of the National Association of Boards of Examiners of Long Term Care Administrators, or by federal or state departments or agencies.

      (c) Each licensee shall obtain a certificate of completion from the provider of the continuing education for all continuing education hours that are successfully completed and shall retain such certificate for a minimum of three years. Upon request by the department, the licensee shall submit the certificate to the department. A licensee who fails to comply with the continuing education requirements shall be subject to disciplinary action pursuant to section 19a-517.

      (d) The continuing education requirements shall be waived for licensees applying for licensure renewal for the first time. The department may, for a licensee who has a medical disability or illness, grant a waiver of the continuing education requirements for a specific period of time or may grant the licensee an extension of time in which to fulfill the requirements.

      (1969, P.A. 754, S. 9; P.A. 77-287, S. 3; 77-574, S. 2, 6; 77-614, S. 323, 610; P.A. 80-484, S. 8, 176; P.A. 89-251, S. 72, 203; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 03-118, S. 4; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-3, S. 20; P.A. 04-221, S. 18; P.A. 05-272, S. 32; P.A. 06-196, S. 211; P.A. 08-184, S. 16; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3, S. 180.)

      History: Sec. 19-42f transferred to Sec. 19-596 in 1977; P.A. 77-287 required proof of completion of required continuing education courses for license renewal; P.A. 77-574 required annual renewal rather than biennial renewal in odd-numbered years and raised fee from $10 to $25; P.A. 77-614 replaced department of health with department of health services, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 80-484 made renewals in accordance with Sec. 14-95 and replaced "board", i.e. licensure board with "department", i.e. health services department; Sec. 19-596 transferred to Sec. 19a-515 in 1983; P.A. 89-251 increased the renewal fee from $25 to $50; P.A. 93-381 replaced department of health services with department of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 03-118 designated existing provisions as Subsec. (a) and deleted provisions therein re regulations for continuing education requirements, and added Subsecs. (b) to (d) re continuing education requirements; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-3 changed license renewal from annually to biennially, and made conforming changes to renewal fee and continuing education requirements, effective January 1, 2004; P.A. 04-221 amended Subsec. (b) by changing commencement date for two-year period from October 1, 2004 to January 1, 2004, and making a technical change, effective June 8, 2004; P.A. 05-272 amended Subsec. (b) by including courses offered by the Association for Long Term Care Financial Managers in the list of qualifying continuing education activities; P.A. 06-196 made a technical change in Subsec. (b), effective June 7, 2006; P.A. 08-184 amended Subsec. (b) by adding the Connecticut Assisted Living Association and Connecticut Alliance for Subacute Care, Inc. to entities that offer or approve continuing education courses; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3 amended Subsec. (a) to increase renewal fee from $100 to $200.

      Sec. 19a-517. (Formerly Sec. 19-598). Unacceptable conduct. Notice. Hearing. Revocation or suspension of license. Appeal. (a) The Department of Public Health shall have jurisdiction to hear all charges of unacceptable conduct brought against any person licensed to practice as a nursing home administrator and, after holding a hearing, written notice of which shall be given to such person, said department, if it finds that any grounds for action by the department enumerated in subsection (b) of this section exist, may take any of the actions set forth in section 19a-17. Such notice shall be given, and such hearing conducted, as provided in the regulations adopted by the Commissioner of Public Health. Any person aggrieved by the finding of the department may appeal therefrom in accordance with the provisions of section 4-183, and such appeal shall have precedence over nonprivileged cases in respect to order of trial.

      (b) The department may take action under section 19a-17 for any of the following reasons: (1) The license holder has employed or knowingly cooperated in fraud or material deception in order to obtain his license or has engaged in fraud or material deception in the course of professional services or activities; (2) the license holder is suffering from physical or mental illness, emotional disorder or loss of motor skill, including but not limited to, deterioration through the aging process, or is suffering from the abuse or excessive use of drugs, including alcohol, narcotics or chemicals; (3) illegal incompetent or negligent conduct in his practice; (4) violation of any provision of state or federal law governing the license holder's practices within a nursing home; or (5) violation of any provision of this chapter or any regulation adopted hereunder. The Commissioner of Public Health may order a license holder to submit to a reasonable physical or mental examination if his physical or mental capacity to practice safely is being investigated. Said commissioner may petition the superior court for the judicial district of Hartford to enforce such order or any action taken pursuant to section 19a-17.

      (1969, P.A. 754, S. 10; P.A. 76-436, S. 377, 681; P.A. 77-603, S. 70, 125; 77-614, S. 473, 610; P.A. 80-484, S. 9, 176; P.A. 88-230, S. 1, 12; P.A. 90-98, S. 1, 2; P.A. 93-142, S. 4, 7, 8; 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-220, S. 4-6; 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 09-232, S. 2.)

      History: P.A. 76-436 replaced court of common pleas with superior court and added reference to judicial districts, effective July 1, 1978; Sec. 19-42h transferred to Sec. 19-598 in 1977; P.A. 77-603 replaced previous appeal provisions with statement that appeals to be made in accordance with Sec. 4-183; P.A. 77-614 allowed revocation or suspension of license, etc. for violations of chapter or regulations, provided that notice be given and hearing conducted pursuant to adopted regulations and substituted department of health for department of health services, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 80-484 replaced "board", i.e. licensing board, with department of health services as hearing authority, deleted provision re grounds for action to revoke, etc., now contained in newly added Subsec. (b) in greater detail and deleted provision re notification of department made obsolete by transfer of hearing power; Sec. 19-598 transferred to Sec. 19a-517 in 1983; P.A. 88-230 replaced "judicial district of Hartford-New Britain" with "judicial district of Hartford", effective September 1, 1991; P.A. 90-98 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1991, to September 1, 1993; P.A. 93-142 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1993, to September 1, 1996, effective June 14, 1993; P.A. 93-381 replaced department and commissioner of health services with department and commissioner of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-220 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1996, to September 1, 1998, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 09-232 amended Subsec. (b) by adding new Subdiv. (4) re disciplinary action based on violation of state or federal law governing license holder's practices within a nursing home and redesignating existing Subdiv. (4) as Subdiv. (5).

      Sec. 19a-521. (Formerly Sec. 19-602). Nursing home facilities. Definitions. As used in this section and sections 19a-522 to 19a-534a, inclusive, 19a-536 to 19a-539, inclusive, 19a-550 to 19a-554, inclusive, and 19a-562a, unless the context otherwise requires: "Nursing home facility" means any nursing home or residential care home as defined in section 19a-490 or any rest home with nursing supervision which provides, in addition to personal care required in a residential care home, nursing supervision under a medical director twenty-four hours per day, or any chronic and convalescent nursing home which provides skilled nursing care under medical supervision and direction to carry out nonsurgical treatment and dietary procedures for chronic diseases, convalescent stages, acute diseases or injuries; "department" means the Department of Public Health; and "commissioner" means the Commissioner of Public Health or the commissioner's designated representative.

      (P.A. 75-468, S. 1, 17; P.A. 77-614, S. 323, 610; P.A. 79-467, S. 1, 8; P.A. 80-437, S. 1; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 97-112, S. 2; P.A. 99-176, S. 18, 24; P.A. 06-195, S. 28; P.A. 09-108, S. 1.)

      History: P.A. 77-614 replaced department and commissioner of health with department and commissioner of health services, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 79-467 removed Sec. 19-613 as section to which definitions apply; P.A. 80-437 added Secs. 19-623a and 19-623b as sections to which definitions apply; Sec. 19-602 transferred to Sec. 19a-521 in 1983; P.A. 93-381 replaced department and commissioner of health services with department and commissioner of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 97-112 replaced "home for the aged" with "residential care home"; P.A. 99-176 deleted reference to Sec. 17b-406 and substituted "the commissioner's" for "his", effective July 1, 1999; P.A. 06-195 replaced reference to Sec. 19a-534 with reference to Sec. 19a-534a; P.A. 09-108 added reference to Sec. 19a-562a, effective July 1, 2009.

      Sec. 19a-550. (Formerly Sec. 19-622). Patients' bill of rights. (a)(1) As used in this section, (A) "nursing home facility" shall have the same meaning as provided in section 19a-521, and (B) "chronic disease hospital" means a long-term hospital having facilities, medical staff and all necessary personnel for the diagnosis, care and treatment of chronic diseases; and (2) for the purposes of subsections (c) and (d) of this section, and subsection (b) of section 19a-537, "medically contraindicated" means a comprehensive evaluation of the impact of a potential room transfer on the patient's physical, mental and psychosocial well-being, which determines that the transfer would cause new symptoms or exacerbate present symptoms beyond a reasonable adjustment period resulting in a prolonged or significant negative outcome that could not be ameliorated through care plan intervention, as documented by a physician in a patient's medical record.

      (b) There is established a patients' bill of rights for any person admitted as a patient to any nursing home facility or chronic disease hospital. The patients' bill of rights shall be implemented in accordance with the provisions of Sections 1919(b), 1919(c), 1919(c)(2), 1919(c)(2)(D) and 1919(c)(2)(E) of the Social Security Act. The patients' bill of rights shall provide that each such patient: (1) Is fully informed, as evidenced by the patient's written acknowledgment, prior to or at the time of admission and during the patient's stay, of the rights set forth in this section and of all rules and regulations governing patient conduct and responsibilities; (2) is fully informed, prior to or at the time of admission and during the patient's stay, of services available in the facility, and of related charges including any charges for services not covered under Titles XVIII or XIX of the Social Security Act, or not covered by basic per diem rate; (3) is entitled to choose the patient's own physician and is fully informed, by a physician, of the patient's medical condition unless medically contraindicated, as documented by the physician in the patient's medical record, and is afforded the opportunity to participate in the planning of the patient's medical treatment and to refuse to participate in experimental research; (4) in a residential care home or a chronic disease hospital is transferred from one room to another within the facility only for medical reasons, or for the patient's welfare or that of other patients, as documented in the patient's medical record and such record shall include documentation of action taken to minimize any disruptive effects of such transfer, except a patient who is a Medicaid recipient may be transferred from a private room to a nonprivate room, provided no patient may be involuntarily transferred from one room to another within the facility if (A) it is medically established that the move will subject the patient to a reasonable likelihood of serious physical injury or harm, or (B) the patient has a prior established medical history of psychiatric problems and there is psychiatric testimony that as a consequence of the proposed move there will be exacerbation of the psychiatric problem which would last over a significant period of time and require psychiatric intervention; and in the case of an involuntary transfer from one room to another within the facility, the patient and, if known, the patient's legally liable relative, guardian or conservator or a person designated by the patient in accordance with section 1-56r, is given at least thirty days' and no more than sixty days' written notice to ensure orderly transfer from one room to another within the facility, except where the health, safety or welfare of other patients is endangered or where immediate transfer from one room to another within the facility is necessitated by urgent medical need of the patient or where a patient has resided in the facility for less than thirty days, in which case notice shall be given as many days before the transfer as practicable; (5) is encouraged and assisted, throughout the patient's period of stay, to exercise the patient's rights as a patient and as a citizen, and to this end, has the right to be fully informed about patients' rights by state or federally funded patient advocacy programs, and may voice grievances and recommend changes in policies and services to facility staff or to outside representatives of the patient's choice, free from restraint, interference, coercion, discrimination or reprisal; (6) shall have prompt efforts made by the facility to resolve grievances the patient may have, including those with respect to the behavior of other patients; (7) may manage the patient's personal financial affairs, and is given a quarterly accounting of financial transactions made on the patient's behalf; (8) is free from mental and physical abuse, corporal punishment, involuntary seclusion and any physical or chemical restraints imposed for purposes of discipline or convenience and not required to treat the patient's medical symptoms. Physical or chemical restraints may be imposed only to ensure the physical safety of the patient or other patients and only upon the written order of a physician that specifies the type of restraint and the duration and circumstances under which the restraints are to be used, except in emergencies until a specific order can be obtained; (9) is assured confidential treatment of the patient's personal and medical records, and may approve or refuse their release to any individual outside the facility, except in case of the patient's transfer to another health care institution or as required by law or third-party payment contract; (10) receives quality care and services with reasonable accommodation of individual needs and preferences, except where the health or safety of the individual would be endangered, and is treated with consideration, respect, and full recognition of the patient's dignity and individuality, including privacy in treatment and in care for the patient's personal needs; (11) is not required to perform services for the facility that are not included for therapeutic purposes in the patient's plan of care; (12) may associate and communicate privately with persons of the patient's choice, including other patients, send and receive the patient's personal mail unopened and make and receive telephone calls privately, unless medically contraindicated, as documented by the patient's physician in the patient's medical record, and receives adequate notice before the patient's room or roommate in the facility is changed; (13) is entitled to organize and participate in patient groups in the facility and to participate in social, religious and community activities that do not interfere with the rights of other patients, unless medically contraindicated, as documented by the patient's physician in the patient's medical records; (14) may retain and use the patient's personal clothing and possessions unless to do so would infringe upon rights of other patients or unless medically contraindicated, as documented by the patient's physician in the patient's medical record; (15) is assured privacy for visits by the patient's spouse or a person designated by the patient in accordance with section 1-56r and, if the patient is married and both the patient and the patient's spouse are inpatients in the facility, they are permitted to share a room, unless medically contraindicated, as documented by the attending physician in the medical record; (16) is fully informed of the availability of and may examine all current state, local and federal inspection reports and plans of correction; (17) may organize, maintain and participate in a patient-run resident council, as a means of fostering communication among residents and between residents and staff, encouraging resident independence and addressing the basic rights of nursing home and chronic disease hospital patients and residents, free from administrative interference or reprisal; (18) is entitled to the opinion of two physicians concerning the need for surgery, except in an emergency situation, prior to such surgery being performed; (19) is entitled to have the patient's family or a person designated by the patient in accordance with section 1-56r meet in the facility with the families of other patients in the facility to the extent the facility has existing meeting space available which meets applicable building and fire codes; (20) is entitled to file a complaint with the Department of Social Services and the Department of Public Health regarding patient abuse, neglect or misappropriation of patient property; (21) is entitled to have psychopharmacologic drugs administered only on orders of a physician and only as part of a written plan of care developed in accordance with Section 1919(b)(2) of the Social Security Act and designed to eliminate or modify the symptoms for which the drugs are prescribed and only if, at least annually, an independent external consultant reviews the appropriateness of the drug plan; (22) is entitled to be transferred or discharged from the facility only pursuant to section 19a-535 or section 19a-535b, as applicable; (23) is entitled to be treated equally with other patients with regard to transfer, discharge and the provision of all services regardless of the source of payment; (24) shall not be required to waive any rights to benefits under Medicare or Medicaid or to give oral or written assurance that the patient is not eligible for, or will not apply for benefits under Medicare or Medicaid; (25) is entitled to be provided information by the facility as to how to apply for Medicare or Medicaid benefits and how to receive refunds for previous payments covered by such benefits; (26) on or after October 1, 1990, shall not be required to give a third-party guarantee of payment to the facility as a condition of admission to, or continued stay in, the facility; (27) is entitled to have the facility not charge, solicit, accept or receive any gift, money, donation, third-party guarantee or other consideration as a precondition of admission or expediting the admission of the individual to the facility or as a requirement for the individual's continued stay in the facility; and (28) shall not be required to deposit the patient's personal funds in the facility.

      (c) The patients' bill of rights shall provide that a patient in a rest home with nursing supervision or a chronic and convalescent nursing home may be transferred from one room to another within a facility only for the purpose of promoting the patient's well-being, except as provided pursuant to subparagraph (C) or (D) of this subsection or subsection (d) of this section. Whenever a patient is to be transferred, the facility shall effect the transfer with the least disruption to the patient and shall assess, monitor and adjust care as needed subsequent to the transfer in accordance with subdivision (10) of subsection (b) of this section. When a transfer is initiated by the facility and the patient does not consent to the transfer, the facility shall establish a consultative process that includes the participation of the attending physician, a registered nurse with responsibility for the patient and other appropriate staff in disciplines as determined by the patient's needs, and the participation of the patient, the patient's family, a person designated by the patient in accordance with section 1-56r or other representative. The consultative process shall determine: (1) What caused consideration of the transfer; (2) whether the cause can be removed; and (3) if not, whether the facility has attempted alternatives to transfer. The patient shall be informed of the risks and benefits of the transfer and of any alternatives. If subsequent to the completion of the consultative process a patient still does not wish to be transferred, the patient may be transferred without the patient's consent, unless medically contraindicated, only (A) if necessary to accomplish physical plant repairs or renovations that otherwise could not be accomplished; provided, if practicable, the patient, if the patient wishes, shall be returned to the patient's room when the repairs or renovations are completed; (B) due to irreconcilable incompatibility between or among roommates, which is actually or potentially harmful to the well-being of a patient; (C) if the facility has two vacancies available for patients of the same sex in different rooms, there is no applicant of that sex pending admission in accordance with the requirements of section 19a-533 and grouping of patients by the same sex in the same room would allow admission of patients of the opposite sex, which otherwise would not be possible; (D) if necessary to allow access to specialized medical equipment no longer needed by the patient and needed by another patient; or (E) if the patient no longer needs the specialized services or programming that is the focus of the area of the facility in which the patient is located. In the case of an involuntary transfer, the facility shall, subsequent to completion of the consultative process, provide the patient and the patient's legally liable relative, guardian or conservator if any or other responsible party if known, with at least fifteen days' written notice of the transfer, which shall include the reason for the transfer, the location to which the patient is being transferred, and the name, address and telephone number of the regional long-term care ombudsman, except that in the case of a transfer pursuant to subparagraph (A) of this subsection at least thirty days' notice shall be provided. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, a patient may be involuntarily transferred immediately from one room to another within a facility to protect the patient or others from physical harm, to control the spread of an infectious disease, to respond to a physical plant or environmental emergency that threatens the patient's health or safety or to respond to a situation that presents a patient with an immediate danger of death or serious physical harm. In such a case, disruption of patients shall be minimized; the required notice shall be provided within twenty-four hours after the transfer; if practicable, the patient, if the patient wishes, shall be returned to the patient's room when the threat to health or safety which prompted the transfer has been eliminated; and, in the case of a transfer effected to protect a patient or others from physical harm, the consultative process shall be established on the next business day.

      (d) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (c) of this section, unless medically contraindicated, a patient who is a Medicaid recipient may be transferred from a private to a nonprivate room. In the case of such a transfer, the facility shall (1) give at least thirty days' written notice to the patient and the patient's legally liable relative, guardian or conservator, if any, a person designated by the patient in accordance with section 1-56r or other responsible party, if known, which notice shall include the reason for the transfer, the location to which the patient is being transferred and the name, address and telephone number of the regional long-term care ombudsman; and (2) establish a consultative process to effect the transfer with the least disruption to the patient and assess, monitor and adjust care as needed subsequent to the transfer in accordance with subdivision (10) of subsection (b) of this section. The consultative process shall include the participation of the attending physician, a registered nurse with responsibility for the patient and other appropriate staff in disciplines as determined by the patient's needs, and the participation of the patient, the patient's family, a person designated by the patient in accordance with section 1-56r or other representative.

      (e) Any facility that negligently deprives a patient of any right or benefit created or established for the well-being of the patient by the provisions of this section shall be liable to such patient in a private cause of action for injuries suffered as a result of such deprivation. Upon a finding that a patient has been deprived of such a right or benefit, and that the patient has been injured as a result of such deprivation, damages shall be assessed in the amount sufficient to compensate such patient for such injury. The rights or benefits specified in subsections (b) to (d), inclusive, of this section may not be reduced, rescinded or abrogated by contract. In addition, where the deprivation of any such right or benefit is found to have been wilful or in reckless disregard of the rights of the patient, punitive damages may be assessed. A patient may also maintain an action pursuant to this section for any other type of relief, including injunctive and declaratory relief, permitted by law. Exhaustion of any available administrative remedies shall not be required prior to commencement of suit under this section.

      (f) In addition to the rights specified in subsections (b), (c) and (d) of this section, a patient in a nursing home facility is entitled to have the facility manage the patient's funds as provided in section 19a-551.

      (P.A. 75-468, S. 12, 17; P.A. 76-331, S. 15, 16; P.A. 79-265, S. 2; 79-378; P.A. 80-80; 80-120; P.A. 86-11; P.A. 89-348, S. 4, 10; P.A. 92-231, S. 3, 10; P.A. 93-262, S. 1, 87; 93-327, S. 3; 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 96-81, S. 1; P.A. 97-112, S. 2; P.A. 01-195, S. 161, 181; P.A. 02-105, S. 6; P.A. 04-158, S. 1; P.A. 09-168, S. 1, 2.)

      History: P.A. 76-331 rephrased Subdiv. (d) and added provision re transfer or discharge of private patient and added Subdiv. (o) re availability of inspection reports; P.A. 79-265 specified that 30 days' notice is applicable to involuntary transfers or discharges and required notification of personal physician if discharge plan prepared by nursing home medical director under Subdiv. (d); P.A. 79-378 changed alphabetic Subdiv. indicators to numeric indicators and added Subsec. (b) re nursing homes liability if patient not notified of rights and benefits; P.A. 80-80 added Subdiv. (16) in Subsec. (a) re patient-run resident council; P.A. 80-120 added Subdiv. (17) re medical opinions concerning surgery; Sec. 19-622 transferred to Sec. 19a-550 in 1983; P.A. 86-11 applied provisions to chronic disease patients and defined "chronic disease hospital"; P.A. 89-348 inserted new Subsec. (a) defining "nursing home facility" and "chronic disease hospital", relettered the remaining Subsecs., amended Subsec. (b) to expand patients' rights and added Subdivs. (18) to (28) re patients' rights and added a new Subsec. (d) re the management of funds; P.A. 92-231 amended Subsec. (b) by requiring implementation of bill of rights in accordance with Sections 1919(c)(2), 1919(c)(2)(D) and 1919(c)(2)(E) of the Social Security Act and providing that a patient who is a Medicaid recipient may be transferred from a private to a nonprivate room unless such transfer would present imminent danger of death; P.A. 93-262 authorized substitution of commissioner and department of social services for commissioner and department on aging, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 93-327 amended Subsec. (b) to replace imminent danger of death standard with new Subdivs. (A) re reasonable likelihood of serious physical harm and (B) re exacerbation of psychiatric problems and to provide notice of transfer no more than 60 days prior to transfer; P.A. 93-381 replaced department of health services with department of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 96-81 amended Subsec. (a) to define "medically contraindicated", amended Subsec. (b)(4) to specify applicability to patients "in a home for the aged or a chronic disease hospital" and added Subsecs. (c) and (d) re the establishment of a consultative process, conditions for nonconsensual transfers and emergency transfers, relettering Subsecs. (c) and (d) as (e) and (f) (Revisor's note: The Revisors editorially (1) substituted the word "and" for a comma in Subsec. (c) in the phrase "... a registered nurse with responsibility for the patient and other appropriate staff ...", (2) deleted the word "such" in Subsec. (c)(E) in the phrase "... at least thirty days' notice shall ...", and (3) substituted the word "and" for a comma in Subsec. (d)(2) in the phrase "... a registered nurse with responsibility for the patient and other appropriate staff ..."); P.A. 97-112 replaced "home for the aged" with "residential care home"; P.A. 01-195 made technical changes in Subsecs. (a) to (d) and (f), effective July 11, 2001; P.A. 02-105 amended Subsec. (b)(4)(B) by adding that notice of involuntary transfer may be given to a person designated by patient in accordance with Sec. 1-56r, amended Subsec. (b)(15) by adding that patient is assured of private visits with such a designated person and that if patient is married and both patient and spouse are inmates they are permitted to share a room unless medically contraindicated, amended Subsec. (b)(19) by adding that such designated person may meet in the facility with the families of other patients, amended Subsec. (c) by adding that if patient does not consent to a transfer initiated by the facility the consultation process may include such a designated person, amended Subsec. (d) by adding that in the case of the transfer of a Medicaid recipient from a private to a nonprivate room, notice may be given to such a designated person, and by adding that the consultative process may include such a designated person; P.A. 04-158 amended Subsec. (b) to reference Sections 1919(b) and 1919(c) of the Social Security Act re implementation of the patients' bill of rights, amended Subsec. (b)(5) re "right to be fully informed about patients' rights by state or federally funded patient advocacy programs", amended Subsec. (b)(10) to substitute "receives quality care and services" for "receives services", and amended Subsec. (b)(21) to add "developed in accordance with Section 1919(b)(2) of the Social Security Act" re a written plan of care; P.A. 09-168 amended Subsec. (b)(27) by deleting reference to individual entitled to medical assistance, deleting reference to any amount required to be paid under Medicaid and adding "third-party guarantee" and amended Subsec. (e) by adding provision re rights or benefits not subject to reduction, rescission or abrogation by contract.

      Sec. 19a-562a. Pain recognition and management training requirements for nursing home facility staff. Staff training requirements for Alzheimer's special care units or programs. (a) Each nursing home facility that is not a residential care home or an Alzheimer's special care unit or program shall annually provide a minimum of two hours of training in pain recognition and administration of pain management techniques to all licensed and registered direct care staff and nurse's aides who provide direct patient care to residents.

      (b) Each Alzheimer's special care unit or program shall annually provide Alzheimer's and dementia specific training to all licensed and registered direct care staff and nurse's aides who provide direct patient care to residents enrolled in the Alzheimer's special care unit or program. Such requirements shall include, but not be limited to, (1) not less than eight hours of dementia-specific training, which shall be completed not later than six months after the date of employment and not less than eight hours of such training annually thereafter, and (2) annual training of not less than two hours in pain recognition and administration of pain management techniques for direct care staff.

      (c) Each Alzheimer's special care unit or program shall annually provide a minimum of one hour of Alzheimer's and dementia specific training to all unlicensed and unregistered staff, except nurse's aides, who provide services and care to residents enrolled in the Alzheimer's special care unit or program. For such staff hired on or after October 1, 2007, such training shall be completed not later than six months after the date of employment.

      (P.A. 06-195, S. 56; P.A. 07-34, S. 1; 07-252, S. 17, 61; P.A. 08-184, S. 38; P.A. 09-108, S. 2.)

      History: P.A. 06-195 effective June 7, 2006; P.A. 07-34 designated existing provisions as Subsec. (a) and added Subsec. (b) re training requirements for unlicensed and unregistered staff working in Alzheimer's special care unit or program; P.A. 07-252 amended Subsec. (a) to extend Alzheimer's and dementia specific training requirements to nurse's aides and make technical changes, and amended Subsec. (b) to exempt nurse's aides from training requirements imposed on unlicensed and unregistered staff; P.A. 08-184 amended Subsec. (a)(1) by substituting "eight" for "three" re hours of annual dementia-specific training required; P.A. 09-108 added new Subsec. (a) re pain recognition and management training requirements for nursing home facility staff and redesignated existing Subsecs. (a) and (b) as Subsecs. (b) and (c), effective July 1, 2009.