Camera Use in Long Term Care And Resident Right to Use of Technology
PUBLIC ACT NO. 21-55
AN ACT STRENGTHENING THE BILLS OF RIGHTS FOR LONGTERM CARE RESIDENTS AND AUTHORIZING THE USE OF RESIDENT TECHNOLOGY FOR VIRTUAL VISITATION AND VIRTUAL MONITORING.
FORMS
Resident Virtual Monitoring Technology Consent Form and Instructions
Roommate Virtual Monitoring Technology Consent Form
SUMMARY
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2021, except the provisions on virtual monitoring and virtual visitation in nursing homes which took effect October 1, 2021. The State of Connecticut Passed Public Act No. 21-55 which makes various changes affecting long-term care facility residents. Principally, it:
1. adds to the nursing home patients’ bill of rights (see BACKGROUND) the
right to treat their living quarters as their own home and extends these
rights to residents of managed residential facilities (e.g., assisted living
facilities);
2. allows nursing home residents to use technology of their choosing that
facilitates virtual monitoring or virtual visitation and establishes related
notification, use, and consent requirements;
3. requires residents to pay for the technology and its installation,
maintenance, operation, deactivation, and removal;
4. requires nursing homes to provide residents with free internet access,
electricity, and a power source for virtual monitoring or virtual visitation
technology, under certain conditions;
5. generally grants nursing homes immunity from civil, criminal, or
administrative liability related to residents’ use of this technology;
6. exempts from virtual monitoring technology requirements, with certain
exceptions, (a) mobile telephones used primarily for phone
communication or (b) tablets not used for virtual monitoring (hereafter
“mobile phones and tablets”);
7. allows the Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman to develop and
provide on its website standard consent and notification forms for the use
of virtual monitoring technology; and
8. allows the Department of Public Health (DPH) commissioner to adopt
implementing regulations for the act’s nursing home virtual monitoring
and virtual visitation provisions.
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BILL SUMMARY OF PUBLIC ACT NO. 21-55
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
12/21/23 | Letter From State Ombudsman Regarding Virtual Visitation vs Virtual Monitoring
FORMS
Resident Virtual Monitoring Technology Consent Form and Instructions