Long-term health facilities: culture change.

Existing law provides for the licensure of long-term health care facilities by the State Department of Public Health. Existing law, the Long-Term Care, Health, Safety, and Security Act of 1973, authorizes the department to assess penalties for violation of prescribed requirements and requires the moneys collected as a result of the imposed penalties to be deposited into the State Health Facilities Citation Penalties Account. Existing law provides that moneys derived from civil penalties for violations of federal law shall be deposited into the Federal Health Facilities Citation Penalties Account. Moneys in both accounts are to be used, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for the protection of health or property of residents of long-term health care facilities, as specified. Existing law also authorizes the department to use up to $130,000 of moneys from the Federal Health Facilities Citation Penalties Account for the improvement of quality of care and quality of life for facility residents. This bill would require moneys from the State Health Facilities Citation Penalties Account to be continuously appropriated and used, as specified. By creating a continuously appropriated fund, the bill would make an appropriation. The bill would authorize the department to use up to $150,000 of moneys each fiscal year from the State Health Facilities Citation Penalties Account for the general promotion of culture change and person-centered care in the state's long-term care facilities, as specified. The bill would require the department to use up to $250,000 each fiscal year from the Federal Health Facilities Citation Penalties Account for specific projects as directed by the federal government for improvement of quality of life for long-term care residents, as specified. This bill would also require, for 4 years after the receipt of funds from the State Health Facilities Citation Penalties Account, the director of the department to contract with a nonprofit organization, as specified, to promote culture change. The bill would require the nonprofit organization to serve long-term health care facilities stakeholders, including, among others, residents and long-term health care facility personnel, to perform a variety of tasks, including serving as the centralized information and technical assistance clearinghouse for best practices in long-term health care facilities for implementing person-centered care and culture change, as defined, and to submit annual reports.