§ 19a-521b — Bed positioning in nursing home facilities. More than two beds per room prohibited. Medicaid rate adjustment for bed reduction due to prohibition.

(a) Each licensed chronic and convalescent nursing home, chronic disease hospital associated with a chronic and convalescent nursing home, rest home with nursing supervision and residential care home shall position beds in a manner that promotes resident care and that provides at least a three-foot clearance at the sides and foot of each bed. Such bed position shall (1) not act as a restraint to the resident, (2) not create a hazardous situation, including, but not limited to, an entrapment possibility, or obstacle to evacuation or being close to or blocking a heat source, and (3) allow for infection control. (b) On and after July 1, 2026, no licensed chronic and convalescent nursing home or rest home with nursing supervision shall place a newly admitted resident in a room containing more than two beds. A violation of the requirements of this subsection shall constitute a Class B violation under section 19a-527 , except no licensed chronic and convalescent nursing home or rest home with nursing supervision shall incur more than one violation per newly admitted resident in one calendar year. (c) The Commissioner of Social Services may recalculate a licensed chronic and convalescent nursing home or rest home with nursing supervision's Medicaid rate established for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, and for the fiscal years thereafter, reflecting any licensed bed reductions associated with the elimination of three and four-bed rooms. Allowable fair rent shall reflect costs for building modifications or other additions incurred for fiscal year 2025, and for the fiscal years thereafter, that are associated with the elimination of three and four-bed rooms.

Legislative History

(June Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-8, S. 35, 63; P.A. 97-112, S. 2; P.A. 21-121, S. 57; P.A. 24-141, S. 1.) History: P.A. 97-112 replaced “home for the aged” with “residential care home”; P.A. 21-121 replaced provision re bed clearance with provision re bed positioning that promotes resident care, added Subdivs. (1) to (3) re requirements, and made a technical change, effective July 1, 2021; P.A. 24-141 designated existing provisions as Subsec. (a), added Subsec. (b) prohibiting more than 2 beds per room and added Subsec. (c) re Medicaid rate adjustment for bed reduction in compliance with prohibition, effective June 4, 2024.