Has your organization been keeping up with the latest Seniors housing state policies and ongoing legislation? There are some interesting issues currently being addressed. For example, in California, a bill (AB 1698 – Continuing Care At Home) has been introduced that would allow CCRCs to provide services in a private residence without that residence having to become licensed as a residential care facility for the elderly (RCFE). This bill would eliminate a barrier for “continuing care at home” (CCAH) for those Seniors who do not wish to move to a Seniors housing community but want to receive an array of services at home that can include home maintenance, home care, assisted living and/or skilled nursing. This “CCAH” concept is currently being practiced in at least five other states and more and more of our clients are interested in implementing the program.
In Florida, a bill (HB 787 – Referral Fees) has recently been signed into law that removes the prohibition on assisted living providers from offering rewards to referral services that provide information, consultation or referrals to consumers to assist them in finding appropriate care or housing options if the referred consumers are not Medicaid recipients. The legislation will also allow assisted living providers in Florida to provide existing residents with a monetary reward for referring a friend or family member who the resident has a personal relationship with to the assisted living provider. This important legislation will certainly change and enhance referral patterns in the future. Anything related to new lead (or prospect) generation is always a high-priority topic in our business!
Other recent developments include legislation in Missouri
(HB 1847 – Assisted Living) that would change the admittance requirements for assisted living by adding a requirement that an individual be physically capable of negotiating a normal path to safety with minimal assistance. This will most likely affect the admittance and retention of high-acuity Seniors. I wonder what the Fair Housing and Americans With Disabilities Act will have to say about this.
If you would like more information on the “continuing care at home” concept, lead generation, referral strategies or if you are dealing with a current challenge and need some assistance, contact MDS at mdsresearch@m-d-s.com.