Connecticut Long Term Care Ombudsman Program

Advocacy Over the Years

Advocacy Over the Years: A Timeline of Legislative Milestones in Long-Term Care

Welcome to the Connecticut Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program's "Advocacy Over the Years" page. This resource chronicles our ongoing commitment to safeguarding the rights and well-being of residents in long-term care settings. Here, you'll find a comprehensive timeline detailing significant legislative agendas, key bills, and pivotal issues we've championed through various legislative sessions. By reflecting on our advocacy's history and anticipating future initiatives, we aim to inform and engage stakeholders in our mission to enhance the quality of long-term care across Connecticut.

 

LOOKING BACK - END OF CT LEGISLATIVE SUMMARY 2025

2025 Connecticut Legislative Session Overview

The 2025 Connecticut Legislative Session, which ran from January 8 to June 4, closed with notable progress for long-term care services and supports. The General Assembly advanced legislation that directly strengthens protections for individuals residing in nursing homes, residential care homes (RCHs), and assisted living facilities. This session underscored the legislature’s commitment to upholding dignity, safety, and quality of life for individuals receiving long-term care, while addressing longstanding systemic challenges and emerging needs.

The Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program’s (LTCOP) legislative priorities centered on advancing resident rights, improving discharge and transfer protections, strengthening oversight and transparency, and ensuring fair treatment in care settings. In alignment with these goals, lawmakers enacted several measures that expand anti-discrimination protections, reinforce safeguards for residents during facility closures and discharges, and create new pathways for education, empowerment, and emergency preparedness.

 

Key Legislative Gains for Long-Term Care

This session produced several landmark laws that will have a lasting impact on long-term care in Connecticut. Public Act 25-17 prohibits discrimination in nursing homes and managed residential communities, protecting residents from differential treatment on the basis of race, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, and other characteristics. Facilities are now required to prominently post non-discrimination notices and ensure staff complete biennial cultural competency training, helping to foster more inclusive and respectful environments for all residents.

Public Act 25-154 extends similar anti-discrimination requirements to all licensed healthcare providers, including long-term care facilities, and establishes such conduct as a discriminatory practice under state law. These laws collectively signal a significant step forward in guaranteeing equitable care and affirming the rights of individuals in care settings.

Lawmakers also took action to enhance oversight, accountability, and emergency preparedness across the long-term care system. Public Act 25-96 strengthens the Department of Public Health’s regulatory authority over nursing homes, RCHs, and assisted living service agencies (ALSAs), increasing penalties for substantial violations and expanding licensing enforcement. At the same time, Public Act 25-16 establishes a residential care home evacuation working group and reinforces discharge protections in both nursing homes and RCHs, ensuring residents’ rights are respected during transfers and placements, and that proximity to family and support networks is prioritized.

Recognizing the growing impact of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, Public Act 25-16 also creates a statewide task force to develop and update a comprehensive Alzheimer’s Plan and requires insurance coverage for biomarker testing to support early diagnosis and treatment. These initiatives will improve care coordination and strengthen Connecticut’s ability to respond to the needs of residents living with cognitive impairments.

In addition, lawmakers expanded opportunities for empowerment and engagement. Residents of nursing homes who have lived in a facility for at least 30 days will now be eligible for tuition waivers at Connecticut’s community colleges under Public Act 25-16, offering pathways for personal growth and connection to the broader community.

 

Finally, measures like Public Act 25-15 ensure that veterans are given priority admission to federally contracted veterans’ homes, while Public Act 25-48 launches a study of conservatorship practices to identify improvements for individuals requiring representation in care settings.

Together, these legislative gains mark meaningful progress in advancing the rights, safety, and well-being of individuals receiving long-term care in Connecticut. They also reinforce the critical role of the Ombudsman Program in ensuring residents and families are informed and empowered to exercise their rights as these new protections take effect.

Detailed Summaries of Key 2025 Public Acts

 

PA 25-89 | HB 7108 – AN ACT CONVERNING AUTISM AND INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY SERVIES AND ABUSE AND NEGLECT INVESTIGATIONS

Public Act No. 25‑89 (formerly HB 7108), signed into law on June 23, 2025, significantly enhances oversight, transparency, and support for individuals with autism and intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in Connecticut. The bill makes the following key changes:

  • Section 1: Increased Transparency in Abuse, Neglect & Death Investigations
    • Requires Department of Developmental Services (DDS) to promptly report and publicly disclose investigations involving allegations of abuse, neglect, or death within its programs. It introduces a mandatory annual public report detailing such investigations and outcomes, ensuring accountability and visibility into the system’s handling of serious incidents. The report shall include:
      • The number of abuse and neglect complaints received by the Department of Developmental Services in the previous calendar year, including deaths of persons reported;
      • The number and type of complaints that were investigated by the department and the percentage of such complaints investigated directly by the department or by private providers;
      • The number and percentage of cases that were substantiated; and
      • What, if any, administrative action was taken by the department regarding such substantiated complaints, including distribution of outcomes and recommendations
    • Requires DDS to review and post the policies and procedures on the departments website
  • Section 2: Stronger Oversight of State Funds: Mandates detailed tracking and public reporting of how state appropriations are spent on autism and IDD services, improving fiscal transparency.
  • Section 3-4: Convene a Workgroup and Conduct a Study on the Future of Southbury Training School. Additionally, DSS/OPM shall apply for any available funding or private grant to conducta state-wide autism needs assessment. If funded the needs assessment shall:
      • Collect data on people living with autism spectrum disorder and their caregivers to inform policy and service delivery in the State of Connecticut
      • And be posted on the internet website for DSS.
  • Section 5:
    • OPM and Governors Kid Cabinet shall establish a working group to examine the feasibility of an interagency complex case team for young adults age 17-22 with IDD or developmental disabilities, including AS with co-occurring mental or behavioral health needs, are in need of community placement or agency services, and qualify for support from more than one state agency. Then submit a report on the findings.
  • Section 6: Annual Joint Informational Hearing

The committees on appropriations, human services, and public health to hold an annual joint informational hearing to review how the Departments of Developmental Services (DDS) and Social Services (DSS) are ensuring the safety and quality of care for individuals with disabilities receiving services through federal Medicaid waiver programs. These hearings may cover topics such as how the agencies are responding to audit findings and recommendations from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General and the state Auditors of Public Accounts, the timeliness of abuse and neglect complaint reporting, and the implementation of corrective actions related to such complaints.

Overall, Public Act 25‑89 strengthens Connecticut’s commitment to the health, safety, and rights of individuals with autism and IDD by enhancing service access and ensuring transparent, accountable systems for protecting vulnerable populations.

 

PA 25-17 | HB 6913 - AN ACT PROHIBITING LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES FROM DISCRIMINATING AGAINST LONG-TERM CARE FACILITY RESIDENTS. Effective October 1, 2025, this law prohibits long-term care facilities in Connecticut; including nursing homes and managed residential communities with assisted living services from discriminating against residents based on a wide range of protected characteristics. These include race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or intellectual disability, veteran status, HIV status, and status as a victim of domestic violence. Facilities must prominently display a notice of non-discrimination and inform residents of their right to file complaints with the Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman. The law also mandates privacy protections during physical care and ensures residents can refuse non-therapeutic examinations. Additionally, facilities must provide biennial cultural competency training developed by the Department of Public Health (Developed by January 1, 2026) for staff working directly with residents, with a focus on the needs of LGBTQ+ individuals and those living with HIV. This same training must be completed for all new hires within six months of their hire date. Non-compliance may result in disciplinary action, and the statute does not preclude residents from pursuing additional legal remedies.

  • Each long-term care facility shall post in a prominent place in such facility the following notice printed in at least fourteen-point boldface capital letters: "(NAME OF FACILITY) DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE AND DOES NOT PERMIT DISCRIMINATION, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, BULLYING, ABUSE, HARASSMENT OR DIFFERENTIAL TREATMENT ON THE BASIS OF RACE, COLOR, RELIGIOUS CREED, SEX, GENDER IDENTITY OR EXPRESSION, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, MARITAL STATUS, AGE, NATIONAL ORIGIN, ANCESTRY, INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY, MENTAL DISABILITY, LEARNING DISABILITY, PHYSICAL DISABILITY, STATUS AS A VETERAN, STATUS AS A VICTIM OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OR HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS STATUS. YOU MAY FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE OFFICE OF THE LONGTERM CARE OMBUDSMAN (PROVIDE CONTACT INFORMATION) IF YOU BELIEVE THAT YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED DISCRIMINATION."
  • The State Ombudsman shall establish policies and procedures for recording complaints filed by or on behalf of residents of long-term care facilities pursuant to the provisions of this section.

               

 

PA 25-16 | HB 6771 - AN ACT ESTABLISHING AN ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE AND DEMENTIA TASK FORCE, REQUIRING HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR BIOMARKER TESTING AND CONCERNING TRANSFERS AND DISCHARGES IN RESIDENTIAL CARE HOMES, TUITION WAIVERS FOR NURSING HOME RESIDENTS WHO TAKE COURSES AT REGIONAL COMMUNITY-TECHNICAL COLLEGES AND CLOSURES AND EVACUATIONS OF RESIDENTIAL CARE HOMES AND NURSING HOMES.

Section 1 – Expansion of Background Check Requirements

Effective Date: October 1, 2025
This section expands and updates the criminal history and patient abuse background search program for long-term care facility staff, including employees, contractors, and certain volunteers. It applies to facilities such as nursing homes, residential care homes (RCHs), Assisted Living Service Agencies, home health agencies, and hospice providers. It applies to individuals who have direct access to residents.  "Direct access" means physical access to a patient or resident of a long-term care facility that affords an individual with the opportunity to commit abuse or neglect against or misappropriate the property of a patient or resident.It defines “disqualifying offenses” and outlines when background checks must be performed, including exceptions (e.g., recent prior checks or emergencies).

Section 2 – Establishment of the Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Task Force

Effective Date: October 1, 2025
Creates a task force to develop a comprehensive State Alzheimer's Plan. The State Alzheimer’s Plan outlines a comprehensive strategy to assess and address the needs of individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia in Connecticut, including service gaps, workforce capacity, caregiver support, public awareness, and long-term policy solutions. It aims to improve care, promote early diagnosis, and ensure the state is prepared to meet the growing demand for dementia-related services. The plan must be updated every four years, with an annual report due beginning January 1, 2027. Membership includes stakeholders from government, healthcare, advocacy organizations, and individuals with lived experience.

Section 3 – Strengthening Discharge Protections in Residential Care Homes

Effective Date: October 1, 2025
Amends §19a-535a to reinforce resident rights during involuntary transfers or discharges from RCHs. Key updates:

  • Require that discharge notices include an attestation of same-day submission to the Ombudsman’s portal.
  • Mandate inclusion of the discharge location in the notice and require updates if it changes.
  • Ensure facilities consider proximity to family and support networks when assisting with placement.
  • New Appeal Rights:
    • If the location changes after the original notice, the resident or their representative gets a new 10-day appeal window, during which discharge is automatically stayed.

Sections 4 & 5 – Health Insurance Coverage for Biomarker Testing

Effective Date: January 1, 2026
Mandates individual (Section 4) and group (Section 5) health insurance plans to cover biomarker testing used to diagnose, treat, or monitor diseases—if clinically useful. Coverage must minimize care disruptions and allow exceptions and appeal processes. Prior authorization must be completed within 7 days (or 72 hours if urgent).

Section 6 – Tuition Waivers for Nursing Home Residents

Effective Date: Upon Passage (June 3, 2025)
Expands tuition waivers at Connecticut’s regional community-technical colleges to include residents of nursing homes who have lived there for at least 30 days. Enrollment is allowed only if space is available after standard registration.

Section 7 – Transfer Assistance Requirements

Effective Date: Upon Passage (June 3, 2025)
Amends §19a-535 to reinforce resident rights during involuntary transfers or discharges from nursing homes.  Requires nursing homes to consider proximity to family and known support networks when assisting residents with transfers or alternative placements.

Section 8 – Residential Care Home Evacuation Working Group

Effective Date: Upon Passage (June 3, 2025)
Directs the State Ombudsman, with DPH and DSS, to convene a working group to:

  • Review RCH evacuation procedures
  • Consider requiring RCHs to join a mutual aid digital emergency management platform
    A report with findings and recommendations is due to the legislature by January 1, 2026.

Section 9 – Nursing Home Admission Flexibility After Closures

Effective Date: October 1, 2025
Modifies existing law to:

  • Require nursing homes to admit applicants displaced by closures or anticipated closures, even if the receiving home has a waiting list (with some exceptions).
  • Adds protections for residents affected by closures of homes in receivership or those that have submitted a Certificate of Need (CON) with five or fewer residents.

 

PA 25-154 | SB 1380 - AN ACT PROHIBITING HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS FROM DISCRIMINATING AGAINST INDIVIDUALS RECEIVING HEALTH CARE SERVICES. Effective Date: October 1, 2025, this law prohibits health care providers in Connecticut, including nursing homes and other long-term care facilities, from discriminating against individuals receiving care based on a wide range of protected characteristics. These include race, color, religious creed, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, intellectual, mental, learning, or physical disability (including blindness), veteran status, and status as a victim of domestic violence. The law applies to all officers, employees, and agents of licensed health care providers and establishes such discrimination as a “discriminatory practice” under Connecticut law. The statute clarifies that it does not require health care providers to administer care deemed medically inappropriate or futile, nor does it alter existing standards of professional care. Providers are encouraged to review their internal policies and staff training to ensure compliance with these new anti-discrimination requirements.

 

PA 25-48 | SB 1501 - AN ACT CONCERNING PROBATE COURT OPERATIONS.
Effective Dates Vary, this law makes numerous changes to Probate Court procedures in Connecticut. It updates provisions regarding birth registrations outside institutions, reconsideration and modification of ex parte orders, and requirements for personal service in certain Probate matters. The act also expands protections and processes in adoption proceedings and mandates investigations into issues affecting conservators.

Notably, it directs the Probate Court Administrator to convene a working group (effective July 1, 2025) including Probate Court judges, the Department of Social Services (DSS), nursing home representatives, and conservator attorneys to study and recommend improvements to conservatorship practices. The group will focus on issues such as payment delays for court-appointed conservators, fee waiver requirements, and conservator compensation levels, and must submit recommendations by January 15, 2026.

 

PA 25-25 | SB 1367 – AN ACT PROHIBITING A BAIL BONDSMAN OR AGENT FROM APPREHENDING A PRINCIPAL ON THE PREMISES OF CERTAIN FACILITIES.
Effective October 1, 2025, this law prohibits professional bondsmen, surety bail bond agents, and bail enforcement agents in Connecticut from apprehending individuals on bond (“principals”) on the premises, grounds, or campus of certain sensitive locations. These include:

  • Any health care facility or institution licensed under state law or operated by the state, and the offices of health care providers licensed by the Department of Public Health.
  • Public or private schools and institutions of higher education.
  • Houses of worship.

Before apprehending a principal, the agent must notify the appropriate law enforcement agency in the municipality where the individual is located.

 

PA 25-15 | HB 6442 - AN ACT CONCERNING VARIOUS MEASURES RECOGNIZING AND HONORING THE MILITARY SERVICE OF VETERANS AND MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES IN CONNECTICUT. Effective July 1, 2025, this law amends CGS § 19a-533 to strengthen protections and establish priority admissions for veterans in Connecticut nursing homes. Under the new provisions, veterans seeking placement in federally contracted veterans’ nursing homes contracted by the Department of Veterans Affairs are granted priority admission. This ensures that eligible veterans have access to the specialized care and service in their communities of origin, and aren’t left without appropriate placement. Facilities must give precedence to these veterans when filling available beds, and the Department of Social Services is authorized to monitor compliance with this requirement.

 

PA 25-96 | HB 6978 – AN ACT CONCERNING THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH’S RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING VARIOUS REVISIONS TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH STATUTES. Effective July 1, 2025 (with some provisions effective from passage or October 1, 2025), this law makes numerous updates to Connecticut’s public health statutes, strengthening regulatory oversight and clarifying licensing requirements for health care facilities. Notably, nursing homes remain subject to full Department of Public Health (DPH) inspections for license renewals, while residential care homes and assisted living service agencies (ALSAs) that are Medicare or Medicaid certified may qualify for inspection waivers at renewal. The act expands DPH’s enforcement authority across all licensed facilities, including nursing homes, RCHs, and ALSAs, allowing civil penalties up to $25,000 for substantial violations, directed plans of correction, and restrictions on facility acquisitions after compliance failures. These measures aim to enhance accountability and streamline licensing processes, while also establishing stricter requirements for water and sewage systems that may affect facility expansions and new construction.

 

PA 25-121 | HB 1266 - AN ACT REQUIRING THE POSTING OF FAIR RENT COMMISSION BYLAWS AND THAT THE HEARINGS OF SUCH COMMISSIONS BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. Effective July 1, 2025 ,Public Act No. 25-121 strengthens transparency and public access in the operations of municipal fair rent commissions in Connecticut. Under the law, any fair rent commission established by a municipality is now required to make its bylaws publicly available by posting them on a publicly accessible website. In addition, all hearings conducted by these commissions must be open to the public. These provisions are intended to promote greater accountability and ensure that tenants, landlords, and the broader community have clear access to the procedures and decisions made by fair rent commissions.

 

LOOKING BACK - END OF CT LEGISLATIVE SUMMARY 2024

A Brief Overview: The 2024 Connecticut Legislative Session

The 2024 Connecticut Legislative Session, which ran from February 7, to May 8, marked a pivotal period for advancing significant policy changes in long-term care. While not all proposed bills were passed, the session resulted in the enactment of several key reforms aimed at improving the quality, choice, and transparency of care. These legislative successes exemplify strong bipartisan collaboration across multiple committees.

Notably, the session resulted in the following key legislative measures:

  • Enhanced Privacy Measures: The session implemented new rules limiting room occupancy to no more than two beds, aimed at reducing overcrowding and increasing privacy for residents.
  • Electronic Nursing Facility Waiting Lists: A new mandate requires nursing facilities to transition to an electronic format for waiting lists, enhancing the accuracy and transparency of the admissions process.
  • Promoting Best Practices and Care Comparisons: The legislature mandated that links to the Medicare Nursing Home Care Compare website be displayed on both the Department of Social Services (DSS) and Department of Public Health (DPH) websites. Additionally, the creation of a Connecticut-specific nursing home dashboard was initiated to help residents and their families make more informed choices about care facilities.
  • Development of a Centers of Excellence Program: This program was created to incentivize nursing homes that meet specific evidence-based standards for high-quality, person-centered care.

The session also addressed critical issues of fairness and safety:

  • Prohibition of Discrimination Based on Mental Health Treatment History: The new laws prohibit discrimination in admissions based on a history of mental health treatment, ensuring equal access to care for all residents.
  • Workplace Violence Prevention Standards: Enhanced standards were introduced to safeguard both residents and staff from violence, creating safer care environments.
  • Transfer of Residents from Closing Facilities: The legislature now requires nursing homes to admit residents transferring from facilities that are closing, without regard to waiting lists, to minimize the risk of transfer trauma and help residents remain in their communities of origin.

Additionally, regulatory authorities were given enhanced powers to discipline facilities that fall short in care practices, ensuring accountability and maintaining high care standards.

Moreover, these recent legislative changes have significantly enhanced the flexibility and responsiveness of the Ombudsman Program, ensuring that individuals receiving care can access essential services more rapidly and in their preferred settings.

Collectively, these measures improve the operational transparency, safety, and quality of care in Connecticut’s nursing, residential, and community care settings, thereby enhancing the quality of life for older and vulnerable populations.

Key Bills Passed During 2024 Legislative Session - By Title and Public Act: To read more about these and other bills go to www.cga.ct.gov and the “quick bill search” link and insert the bill number only.

HB-5001: Supporting Connecticut Seniors and Improving Nursing and Home-Based Care (Public Act 24-39)

This comprehensive bill addresses several aspects of long-term care and home care improvements, aiming to enhance transparency, care quality, and resident protections. Key provisions include:

  • Home Care Provider Registry: The bill mandates the creation of a state-run home care provider registry by January 1, 2025. The registry will be available online and will list qualified providers to promote awareness, provider recruitment, and retention.
  • Quality of Care Links: The bill requires the Department of Social Services and the Department of Public Health to include direct links to Medicare’s Care Compare tool to enable easier access for families when assessing nursing home quality.
  • Expansion of Fingerprinting Locations: To enhance background checks for home care and health service providers, the bill expands fingerprinting locations statewide.
  • Identification Requirements: From October 1, 2024, all home health care agency employees must wear ID badges during appointments to ensure better service verification and security.
  • Presumptive Medicaid Eligibility: Establishes a system for presumptive Medicaid eligibility for home care applicants, allowing them to receive care for up to 90 days while their full eligibility is determined.
  • Ombudsman Notification: Requires that the Long-Term Care Ombudsman be notified within 30 days of licensing Assisted Living Service Agencies (ALSAs) providing services to Managed Residential Communities (MRCs).
  • MRC Notifications: MRCs must notify residents 30 days before any changes in ALSA providers to give adequate time for residents to adjust.
  • Consumer Guide: Requires the State Ombudsman, in consultation with the Department of Public Health, to develop a comprehensive guide for MRC residents, including details about their rights and relevant information.
  • Centers of Excellence Program: Introduces incentives for nursing homes that meet specific evidence-based standards for providing high-quality, person-centered care.
  • Municipal Agents for the Elderly: Expands the duties of municipal agents to assist seniors in accessing housing resources and requires the development of a contact directory for these agents.

HB-5046: Promoting Nursing Home Resident Quality of Life (Public Act 24-141)

This bill focuses on enhancing the quality of life for nursing home residents by setting clear standards for care and management. Key provisions include:

  • Room Capacity Limits: As of July 1, 2026, no new nursing home residents can be placed in rooms with more than two beds, reducing overcrowding and improving privacy.
  • Nursing Home Waiting Lists: Nursing homes must admit residents transferring from facilities that are closing, regardless of their waiting list position, to minimize the risk of transfer trauma.
  • Enforcement of State Laws: Extends penalties for nursing homes that violate state laws, ensuring consistency with penalties for violations of federal laws.
  • Managed Residential Care Homes: Requires MRCs to include fee adjustment information in their residency agreements, provide 90 days’ notice for fee increases, and offer refunds for certain fees if they are unable to meet a resident’s needs.
  • Fee Disclosure: ALSAs must disclose fee increases at least 60 days before they take effect and provide a history of fee increases for the past three years if requested.
  • Nursing Facility Management Oversight: Expands the criteria for issuing nursing facility management certificates and increases penalties for non-compliance.

SB-1: Concerning the Health and Safety of Connecticut Residents (Public Act 24-19)

This bill strengthens health and safety protections in nursing homes and other health care facilities. Key provisions include:

  • Workplace Violence Prevention: Requires healthcare facilities to adopt and implement workplace violence prevention standards, which may also be a condition for Medicaid reimbursement.
  • Combating Loneliness and Isolation: Establishes working groups to address loneliness and isolation among older adults, including a pilot program that uses technology to foster social engagement.
  • Direct Care Definition: Establishes a statutory definition for "direct care," which includes hands-on tasks like feeding, bathing, toileting, and lifting, ensuring these tasks are included under minimum staffing levels.
  • Ambulance Prior Authorization: Prohibits health carriers from requiring prior authorization for medically necessary ambulance transport to hospitals, ensuring timely access to emergency care.
  • Peer-Run Respite Center: Requires the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services to establish a peer-run respite center to provide support services to adults experiencing distress during a mental health crisis.
  • Mental Health Admissions: Prohibits nursing homes from denying admission solely because an individual has received mental health services in the past, addressing potential discrimination.

SB-308: Implementing Task Force Recommendations for Wheelchair Repair (Public Act 24-58)

This bill introduces new regulations to improve the timely repair of wheelchairs, enhancing service quality for individuals relying on these devices. Key provisions include:

  • Timely Repair Requirements: Requires wheelchair dealers to repair wheelchairs within 10 business days, provided the consumer has made the wheelchair available and necessary prior authorizations have been obtained. Repairs must be performed at the consumer’s home if requested.
  • Complaint Mechanism: The Office of the Healthcare Advocate will maintain a complaint line for repair issues and report annually to legislative committees.
  • Reporting Requirements: Dealers contracting with the Department of Social Services must report statistics on repair times annually to enhance oversight.
  • No New Prescriptions for Repairs: Prohibits the requirement of new prescriptions or prior authorizations for repairs, unless the original prescription is older than five years.
  • CRT and Wheelchair Repair Advisory Council: Establishes a council to monitor and recommend improvements to wheelchair repairs, ensuring timely service for users.

HB-5457: Nursing Home Waiting Lists (Public Act 24-17)

This bill mandates electronic waiting lists for nursing homes to improve transparency and streamline the admissions process. Key provisions include:

  • Electronic Waiting Lists: Requires nursing homes to maintain their waiting lists in an electronic format by July 1, 2025.
  • Non-Discrimination and Admission Order: Nursing homes must process admissions in the order applications are received, and they are prohibited from discriminating against indigent applicants based on their payment source.
  • Active Management: Nursing homes must periodically confirm applicants’ interest in remaining on the list and can remove unresponsive applicants.

HB-5308: Absentee Voting for Nursing Home Residents (Public Act 24-34)

This bill ensures that nursing home residents can still participate in elections, even if they fall ill shortly before the election. Key provisions include:

  • Absentee Ballots: Allows nursing home and hospital patients who become ill within six days before an election to vote via absentee ballot.
  • Appointment of a Designee: Residents can appoint a designee to deliver the absentee ballot, ensuring that they can participate in the voting process despite health issues.

HB-5146: Disclosures of Financial Records (Public Act 24-84)

This bill ensures that financial institutions provide customer financial records to the Department of Social Services (DSS) within 20 days upon receiving a signed certification, speeding up the eligibility determination process for Medicaid and other state aid services.

 

LOOKING BACK - END OF CT LEGISLATIVE SUMMARY 2023

2023 Legislative Session Overview: 

The 2023 CT legislative session was a long budget-focused every other year legislative session that started January 4th and ended June 7th.  Democrats controlled both the House and Senate by large majorities again this year (98-53 in the House and 24-12 in the Senate).  A state budget was approved late session by large bi-partisan majorities in both the House and Senate and signed by Governor Lamont.  A large FY 2022-23 state budget surplus and large state rainy day fund cushion, unlike budgets from 4-5+ years ago, were backgrounds to the session along with the fiscal spending cap which legislators saw as limiting more expansive state appropriations. The state budget included tax cuts for the first time in decades in CT, and other bills related to implementation of early voting, greater phased-in income tax exemptions for retirement income, and gun violence reform.


Nursing Homes and Long Term Care

Related to nursing homes and long-term care, there were positive measures passed to require:  1) Greater nursing home transparency for CT Department of Social Service cost reporting to help determine what are real nursing home costs given that may nursing homes have multiple corporate structures and related parties and it can be hard to follow the money;  2)  Greater public availability of such DSS reports;  3)  More efficient use of state and federal funds by nursing homes;  4)  Improved review and requirements for nursing home change of ownership for greater accountability and to keep out bad actors;  5)  Greater protections for residents related to nursing home involuntary discharge notices and such notices would be invalid if the nursing home did not provide to LTCOP at the same time as provided to the resident;  6)  Many other consumer and resident/family-friendly measures.

On February 10th, the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program (LTCOP), E-Board, Statewide Family Council, and many other advocacy organizations rallied at the Legislative Office Building prior to the public hearing on Senate Bill (SB) 989, a comprehensive nursing home reform bill.  The hearing lasted all day and late into the evening.  The rally highlighted the very real poor nursing home staffing and care concerns that many residents face. SB 989 would have required increased state nursing home staffing to 4.1 hours per resident per day from the 3.0 current requirement among many measures.  A corollary bill SB 1026 would have phased-in CT minimum staffing requirements to 3.6 hours per resident per day and then increase it to 4.1 within a couple years. 

Unfortunately, increased nursing home staffing was not approved during the 2023 CT legislative session.  Possible reasons:  cost, staffing availability, and the hope and backdrop for a first-ever national nursing home minimum staffing requirement which the White House and federal government Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) floated last year at 4.1 hours per resident per day and which CMS/consultants have been reviewing/studying since with key stakeholder input. As of this writing on June 13th, the White House/CMS are expected to announce results of their year-long national minimum staffing review and propose some sort of national minimum staffing measure.

 

Key Bills Passed During 2023 Legislative Session - By Title and Public Act:To read more about these and other bills go to www.cga.ct.gov and the “quick bill search” link and insert the bill number only.

 

HB 5004 – An Act Implementing Early Voting,  (Generally 14-day early voting period for general elections 7-day early voting for most primaries, and a 4-day early voting period for special elections and presidential preference primaries; starting after 1/1/24;  requirements and procedures for early voting included) Public Act 23-5

HJ 1  -  Resolution Proposing Constitutional Amendment Allowing for No-Excuse Absentee Voting, GAE, House Adopted, Senate Adopted (Resolution to appear on 2024 general election ballot) H.J. No. 1

HB 5781 -  An Act Concerning Notice of Proposed Involuntary Transfer or Discharge of a Nursing Facility Resident, Family Councils in Managed Residential Communities, Coordination of Dementia Services, Nursing Home Transparency and Homemaker-Companion Agencies, (Consolidated these four bills SB 930, SB 1024, HB 6678; SB 1025 into HB 5781;  includes nursing home involuntary discharge focus requiring nursing to provide affirmation to LTCOP that discharge notice was provided to resident and invalidates the discharge notice if LTCOP did not receive a copy of the discharge notice at the same time it was issued to the resident;  the bill also provides access to the discharge plan for LTCOP staff;  includes financial transparency requirements for nursing homes and reduces related party cost reports required to be reported to $30K from $50K;  the bill also requires assisted living facilities to encourage and assist in the development of family councils;  a dementia services coordinator position is created at the Department of Aging and Disability Services to coordinate state agency dementia programs and services;  and it will transfer homemaker-companion agency jurisdiction to DPH from the Department of Consumer Protection and provides for many greater consumer protections Public Act 23-48

HB 6731 -  An Act Concerning The Department of Public Health’s Recommendations Regarding Change in Ownership of Health Care Facilities, Public Act 23-122 (Requires greater scrutiny and review of change of ownership for nursing homes with goal to keep out bad actors)

HB 6733 -  An Act Concerning The Department of Public Heath’s Recommendations Regarding Various Revisions To The Public Health Statutes, PH, (Includes measure that revises assisted living (AL) definition and allows for end-of-life care at AL;  residents do not have to be chronic and stable in this situation as typically required in AL), Public Act 23-31

HB 6741 -  Improving the Safety of Health Care Providers and Patients, Special Act 23-29 (Requires DPH to make public announcements against aggressive behavior towards healthcare workers; another section focuses on certain state grant funding availability for building security infrastructure improvements)

HB 6775 - An Act Concerning Mandated Reporters, Public Act 23-168  (Expands abuse, neglect, exploitation, and abandonment mandated reporter list to also include licensed professional counselors;  adult probation officers;  adult parole officers;  physician assistants; dental hygienists;  resident service coordinators, clinical care coordinators, and managers employed at housing authorities, or municipal developers operating elderly housing projects)

SB 956 –  An Act Requiring Discharge Standards Regarding Follow-Up Appointments and Prescription Medications for Patients Being Discharged From A Hospital or Nursing Home Facility, (This bill requires hospitals and nursing homes to better care coordinate resident needs upon discharge) Public Act 23-39

SB 989 -  An Act Concerning Nonprofit Provider Retention of Contract Savings, Community Health Worker Medicaid Reimbursement and Studies of Medicaid Rates of Reimbursement, Nursing Home Transportation and Nursing Home Waiting Lists Public Act 23-186 (certain measures like cost reporting transparency and involuntary discharge notices were included in other bills;  there was a strike all amendment and final bill appears to include only resident family transportation and waitlist workgroup measures related to nursing homes – need to confirm with the CT General Assembly;  expect a bill name change once bill finalized)

SB 1088 -  Financial Exploitation of Senior Citizens, Banking, Public Act 23-161  (greater financial protections for senior citizens and greater responsibility and requirements for financial organizations to help protect seniors)

HB 6941 -  The State Budget Bill:  An Act Concerning the State Budget for the Biennium Ending June 30, 2025, and Making Appropriations Therefor, and Provisions Related to Revenue and Other Items Implementing the State Budget, Public Act 23-204 (related to long-term care:  one section establishes a working group to study nursing home excess bed capacity;  another section provides for compensation for family care caregivers in the Medicaid waiver program for personal care attendant support once CMS approves the CT state waiver amendment request;  another section would increase funeral assistance support to $1800 for low-income individuals;  this bill includes the personal income tax rate reduction and retirement income phased-in exemptions up to certain limits info)

 

Key 2023 Home and Community-Based (HCBS) Related Bills

HB 6677 -  Adult Day Centers -Increase Eligibility, Fee Increase, and Add PACE (Program for All-Inclusive Care for Elderly) To Medicaid State Plan, Public Act 23-30; 
HB 6767 -  DCP’s Recommendations Regarding Licensing and Enforcement, (includes homemaker companion agency consumer protections);  Public Act 23-99

HB 6855 – Medicaid – Study Efficacy and Need for Expansion of Such Programs, (wheelchair repair workgroup established), Public Act 23-22

SB 9, ( sections on PCA pathways and medical record request timelines from institution to institution);  Public Act 23-97

SB 972 –  Crisis Intervention Training for Police Officers and Collaboration Between Police Officers and Social Workers, Public Act 23-104

SB 998 -  Establishing Tax Abatement for Certain Conservation Easements,  (sections include multiple tenant protections and housing issues; rental regulations, Fair Share, affordable housing, reduces security deposit return timeline); Public Act 23-207

SB 1075 -  Hospice and Palliative Care Pilot Program (establishes a hospital at home hospice pilot program) Public Act 23-174

 

LOOKING BACK - END OF CT LEGISLATIVE SUMMARY 2022

2022 Legislative Session Dates: The Connecticut General Assembly Convened on February 9, 2022, and adjourned on May 4, 2022. The legislators serving in this session took office following the 2020 elections. Democrats won a 24-12 majority in the Senate and a 97-54 majority in the House. The party also controlled the governorship, creating a Democratic state government trifecta. A full and exhaustive list of all 2022 Legislative Committee Assignments can be found here. This was an every other year Short Legislative Session, Both State Chambers, House and Senate, continued to have Large Democratic Majorities with A Democratic Governor, Children’s Mental Health Issues Were Top Priority This Year Compared to Nursing Homes Last Year;  There Was a Large State Budget Surplus and Large Rainy Day Fund Versus Budget Challenges A Few Years Ago, There Was Lots of Federal and State Pandemic Support to Nursing Homes, Residents and Staff the Last Couple Years - There Were Positive Legislative Advances on Long Term Care Issues This Legislative Session Though Not the Landmark Advances of Pandemic Legislative Relief seen in 2021. This year we saw measures for greater consumer and resident protection; rights; accountability; Social Work Staffing Clarification; training; and reporting requirements and timelines updates.

Key Bills Passed Including HB 5313, HB 5485, HB 5500, HB 5506, SB 9, SB 173, SB 286, HB 5205, and SB 217 – By Title and Public Act

HB 5313 - Temporary Nursing Services Agencies, Reporting of Involuntary Transfers and Discharges from Nursing Homes and Residential Care Homes, Elder Abuse Training, Legal Rights of Long-Term Care Applicants and A Study of Managed Residential Community Issues, Aging, Public Act 22-57

HB 5485 - Various Revisions To Public Health Statutes, PH, Public Act 22-92 (includes pain management and oral hygiene new required training)

HB 5500 - DPH’s Recommendations Re: Various Revisions to the Public Health Statutes, PH, Public Act 22-58

HB 5506 - Act Adjusting The State Budget for the Biennium Ending June 30, 2023, Concerning Provisions Related to Revenue, School Construction and Other Items To Implement The State Budget and Authorizing and Adjusting Bonds of the State, Emergency Certification, Public Act 22-118 (includes Community Ombudsman provision)

SB 9 - Additional Adjustments to the State Budget for Biennium Ending June 30, 2023, A Community Ombudsman Program, Certain Municipal-Related Provisions, School Building Projects Grants, and High Deductible Health Plans, APP, Public Act 22-146 (see section 7)

SB 173 - Study of Cost-Feasibility of Permitting Community Spouse of Institutionalized Medicaid Recipient To Retain Maximum Amount of Allowable Assets, Aging, (see section 237 also Community Spouse Protected Amount/HB 5506 Budget Bill Passed), Public Act 22-121

SB 286 - Elder Abuse Reporting Deadlines, Temporary Family Assistance, Certificates of Need for Long-Term Care Facilities and Civil Penalties for Nursing Homes That Fail To Use Rate Increases for Employee Wage Enhancements, Public Act 22-145, (see amendment Sections 504 wage enhancement civil penalties possible and sections 505-508 CON for nursing homes)

HB 5205 - Fair Rent Commissions, HSG, Public Act 22-30 – statute expanded to require more towns above certain population level to have a Fair Rent Commission – greater opportunity for consumer protections to exorbitant rent increases and other landlord measures

SB 217 - Establish A Hate Crimes Investigative Unit Within Division of State Police and Require Development of A Reporting System, Best Practices and A Model Investigation Policy for Law Enforcement Units Regarding Hate Crimes, Public Act 22-9

LOOKING BACK - END CT LEGISLATIVE SUMMARY 2021

The 2021 CT regular legislative session began on January 6th and ended on June 9th, a every other year long legislative session devoted to passage of a two-year budget bill. The session started after months of an ongoing Covid-19 pandemic with its significant hardships and restrictions for nursing home residents, family members, staff, and citizens alike.  And just a few weeks after the Covid-19 vaccines started to become available to nursing home residents.  A Nursing Home and Assisted Living Oversight Working Group, established in fall 2020 in response to these hardships and including residents, family members, advocates, legislators, providers and others, submitted recommendations to the legislature in early January 2020 and many of these resident and family-friendly legislative recommendations were passed into law this session.  The E-Board strongly advocated this session for all nursing home residents including thru remote legislative testimony.  A recent article in Kaiser Health News highlights the E-Board role - https://khn.org/news/article/zooming-into-the-statehouse-nursing-home-residents-use-new-digital-skills-to-push-for-changes .

 

A summary of key nursing home measures passed includes:  rights to use technology of resident choice including video cameras with appropriate safeguards, protections and access rights;  required resident and family council notification on regulations or legislative proposals impacting long term care facility residents and right to testify remotely as needed;  improved DPH minimum required direct care staffing levels and improved social worker and recreation staffing requirements;  a personal needs allowance increase from $60/month to $75/month for eligible residents;  rights of essential caregivers to visit residents even during certain visit restrictions;  required two-month supply of needed nursing home personal protective equipment (PPE);  improved infection control staff and other requirements; required staff at least on-call each shift,, to start an IV line;  staff required to be educated on best practices to ensure resident social, emotional and mental health needs and addressed thru person-centered care and assure opportunities for social connection and strategies to minimize social isolation;  increased dementia special care unit requirements;  required support from nursing homes to promote family councils;  visitation protocols to be provided in writing and easy to understand format; care plan requirements to include resident visitation and support needs;  and DPH required to submit report to the legislature by 1/1/22 regarding state or federal funds that may be available to support infrastructure improvements in nursing homes.  Effective bill implementation dates vary.  Specific bill information is listed below and residents can go to the CT General Assembly website at www.cga.ct.gov and highlight “quick bill search” and insert the bill number in the search box to  get detailed bill info.

 

Quick Links to Some Key Bills passed from CT 2021 Session

AN ACT CONCERNING ESSENTIAL SUPPORT PERSONS AND A STATE-WIDE VISITATION POLICY FOR RESIDENTS OF LONGTERM CARE FACILITIES.
https://www.cga.ct.gov/2021/ACT/PA/PDF/2021PA-00071-R00HB-06634-PA.PDF - Public Act No. 21-71 | Previously H.B. 6634

 

AN ACT CONCERNING NURSING HOMES AND DEMENTIA SPECIAL CARE UNITS. https://www.cga.ct.gov/2021/act/pa/pdf/2021PA-00185-R00SB-01030-PA.pdf - Public Act No. 21-185 | Previously S.B. 1030

 

AN ACT STRENGTHENING THE BILLS OF RIGHTS FOR LONGTERM CARE RESIDENTS AND AUTHORIZING THE USE OF RESIDENT TECHNOLOGY FOR VIRTUAL VISITATION AND VIRTUAL MONITORING. https://www.cga.ct.gov/2021/ACT/PA/PDF/2021PA-00055-R00SB-00975-PA.PDF  - Public Act No. 21-55 | Previously S.B. 975

Resident Virtual Monitoring Technology Consent Form and Instructions

Roommate Virtual Monitoring Technology Consent Form

 

AN ACT STRENGTHENING THE VOICE OF RESIDENTS AND FAMILY COUNCILS. https://www.cga.ct.gov/2021/ACT/PA/PDF/2021PA-00194-R00SB-00973-PA.PDF - Public Act No. 21-194 | Previously S.B. 973

 

AN ACT CONCERNING THE STATE BUDGET FOR THE BIENNIUM ENDING JUNE THIRTIETH, 2023, AND MAKING APPROPRIATIONS THEREFOR, AND MAKING DEFICIENCY AND ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE THIRTIETH, 2021. https://www.cga.ct.gov/2021/ACT/SA/PDF/2021SA-00015-R00HB-06689-SA.PDF - Special Act No. 21-15 | Previously House Bill No. 6689

 

AN ACT CONCERNING PROVISIONS RELATED TO REVENUE AND OTHER ITEMS TO IMPLEMENT THE STATE BUDGET FOR THE BIENNIUM ENDING JUNE 30, 2023. - (Personal Needs Allowance Addressed In Section 353 and 354) https://www.cga.ct.gov/2021/TOB/S/PDF/2021SB-01202-R00-SB.PDF | Previously S.B. 1202

 

AN ACT CONCERNING THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH'S RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING VARIOUS REVISIONS TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH STATUTES. https://www.cga.ct.gov/2021/ACT/PA/PDF/2021PA-00121-R00HB-06666-PA.PDF - Public Act No. 21-121 | Previously House Bill 6666

 

AN ACT REQUIRING DRIVERS OF PARATRANSIT VEHICLES TO REPORT SUSPECTED ABUSE, NEGLECT, EXPLOITATION OR ABANDONMENT OF ELDERLY PERSONS. https://www.cga.ct.gov/2021/act/pa/pdf/2021PA-00122-R00SB-00763-PA.pdf - Public Act 21-122 | Previously S.B. 763

 

AN ACT CONCERNING SENIOR CENTERS AND SENIOR CRIME PREVENTION EDUCATION. https://www.cga.ct.gov/2021/act/Pa/pdf/2021PA-00007-R00SB-00817-PA.PDF - Public Act 21-7 | Previously S.B. 817

 

AN ACT CONCERNING VARIOUS REVISIONS TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH STATUTES. https://cga.ct.gov/2021/act/pa/pdf/2021PA-00026-R00SB-01083-PA.pdf - Public Act 21-26 | Previously S.B. 1083

 

AN ACT EQUALIZING COMPREHENSIVE ACCESS TO MENTAL, BEHAVIORAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH CARE IN RESPONSE TO THE PANDEMIC. https://www.cga.ct.gov/2021/act/Pa/pdf/2021PA-00035-R00SB-00001-PA.PDF - Public Act No. 21-35 | Previously S.B. 1

 

AN ACT ESTABLISHING A COMMISSION ON THE DISPARATE IMPACT OF COVID-19. https://www.cga.ct.gov/2021/act/Sa/pdf/2021SA-00037-R00HB-05614-SA.PDF - Special Act 21-37 | Previously H.B. 5614 

 

AN ACT CONCERNING DECLARATIONS OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND CIVIL PREPAREDNESS EMERGENCIES AND THE CREATION OF A BIPARTISAN COMMISSION TO STUDY STATUTES GOVERNING THE ISSUANCE OF SUCH DECLARATIONS. https://www.cga.ct.gov/2021/act/Sa/pdf/2021SA-00005-R00HB-05653-SA.PDF - Special Act 21-5 | Previously H.B. 5653