Governor Signs Legislation to Improve Care and Safety of Residents in Assisted Living Homes
Governor Signs Legislation to Improve Care and Safety of Residents in Assisted Living Homes
Budget includes $4.5 million in FY06 for enforcement, auxiliary grants
Governor Mark R. Warner signed legislation today that significantly strengthens Virginia's uneven regulation of assisted living facilities to improve the care and safety of residents. The bills, House Bill 2512 (Hamilton) and Senate Bill 1183 (Hanger and Howell), passed unanimously in the 2005 General Assembly and were supported by a broad coalition that included assisted living providers and advocates for seniors.
The legislation:
* requires licensure of assisted living administrators
* increases the maximum monetary penalty per inspection from $500 to $10,000
* establishes criteria for assessing penalties by focusing on harm or potential harm to residents
* allows for a summary suspension of a facility's licensure to protect public safety or health
* requires medication aides at assisted living facilities to be registered by the Board of Nursing
* strengthens disclosure requirements for facilities to tell residents and family members what circumstances would cause a resident to be discharged from a facility
* and improves screening of residents with mental health care needs.
"While most assisted living providers in Virginia provide good quality care, we all recognize there are substandard facilities that were not adequately covered by our current system of regulations," Governor Warner said at today's bill signing at the State Capitol. "This sweeping legislation had the potential to unravel along the way, and I want to congratulate all of those activists, facility operators, regulators and lawmakers who worked with us to improve conditions for residents of Virginia's more than 650 assisted living facilities."
In addition, the Governor's budget provided $500,000 to fund 11 additional enforcement positions in the Department of Social Services for Fiscal Year 2006 to help implement the provisions of this bill. Governor Warner also provided an additional $4 million in FY06 to increase the auxiliary grant for residents of assisted living facilities by $50 per month, from $894 to $944.
"This is the most progressive effort in more than a decade to help ensure the safety and well being of Virginians who reside in assisted living facilities," state Health and Human Resources Secretary Jane H. Woods said. "The collaborative efforts of many stakeholders produced sweeping legislation that will have a direct and positive impact on the lives of countless people."
The bill was supported by a broad coalition, including AARP, the Coalition for the Aging, the Virginia Assisted Living Association, the Virginia Association of Area Agencies on Aging, the Virginia Health Care Association, and the Virginia Association of Non-Profit Homes for the Aging. The Administration was pleased to work with the Joint Commission on Health Care in passing this legislation.
http://www.governor.virginia.gov/Press_Policy/Releases/2005/Mar05/0323.htm