SB2137: NURSING HOMES-SOCIAL ISOLATION

Legislative Summary

Amends the Nursing Home Care Act. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall require each long-term care facility in the State, as a condition of facility licensure, to adopt and implement written policies, provide for the availability of technology to facility residents, and ensure that appropriate staff and other capabilities are in place to prevent the social isolation of facility residents. Contains specified requirements for the social isolation prevention policies. Provides that the Department shall distribute civil monetary penalty funds, as approved by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and any other available federal and State funds, upon request, to facilities for communicative technologies and accessories needed for the purposes of the provisions. Provides that whenever the Department conducts an inspection of a long-term care facility, the Department's inspector shall determine whether the long-term facility is in compliance with the provisions and the policies, protocols, and procedures adopted pursuant to the provisions. Requires the Department to adopt rules necessary to implement the provisions within 60 days after the amendatory Act's effective date (and makes conforming changes in the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act). Contains other provisions. Effective immediately.