NURSING HOME: REPORT OF ABUSE S.B. 462:
COMMITTEE SUMMARY
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Senate Bill 462 (as introduced 6-15-11)
Sponsor: Senator Steven Bieda
Committee: Families, Seniors, and Human Services
Date Completed: 9-26-11
CONTENT
The bill would amend Part 217 (Nursing Homes) of the Public Health Code to do both of the following:
-- Require a nursing home employee who becomes aware of the abuse, mistreatment, or harmful neglect of a patient and reports the matter to the nursing home administrator or nursing director also to report the matter to the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA).
-- Delete a requirement that LARA notify the Department of Human Services when a nursing home administrator or nursing director reports a matter described above to LARA.
Part 217 prohibits a licensee, nursing home administrator, or employee of a nursing home from physically, mentally, or emotionally abusing, mistreating, or harmfully neglecting a patient. A nursing home employee who becomes aware of such an action immediately must report the matter to the nursing home administrator or nursing director. The bill would require that the employee also report the matter to LARA.
In addition, a nursing home administrator or nursing director who becomes aware of a prohibited act described above must report the matter by telephone to LARA. (The statutory requirement refers to the former Department of Public Health, but responsibility for Part 217 was transferred to LARA by Executive Order 2011-4.) The bill would delete a requirement for LARA, in turn, to notify the Department of Human Services.
MCL 333.21771 Legislative Analyst: Patrick Affholter
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.
Fiscal Analyst: Josh Sefton
Analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent. sb462/1112