Healthcare (Long-Term Care)

This Senate Resolution honors the Kentucky state Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program for its advocacy work on behalf of nursing home and assisted living facility residents. The bill formally recognizes the program's efforts to protect resident rights, investigate complaints, and improve care quality across over 600 facilities serving more than 40,000 people. It directs the Senate Clerk to send a copy of the resolution to Senator Amanda Mays Bledsoe for delivery, serving as a commemorative acknowledgment rather than creating new policy requirements.

SB 301 (as detailed in its bill text) corrects a discrepancy in its abstract: it does not add gender-neutral language but instead amends Kentucky law to establish a statewide prescreening system for long-term care admissions. The bill requires the Health and Family Services cabinet to implement a preadmission review system, including a resource means test (ensuring applicants have funds for 365 days of care), before authorizing placement in skilled-nursing or intermediate-care facilities. It mandates that facilities cannot admit patients without this screening, and non-compliant admissions would be a Class B violation. The law directly affects long-term care facilities, hospitals offering skilled-nursing beds, and Kentuckians seeking Medicaid-covered care in these settings. The bill was introduced in the Senate on February 27, 2026, and referred to committee.

HB 721 amends Kentucky law to require a statewide prescreening and admissions review system for long-term-care facilities and certain hospital-based skilled-nursing beds. It directly affects residents seeking admission to these facilities, requiring them to meet a resource means test (sufficient funds for 365 days of care) and obtain preauthorization from the Cabinet for Health and Family Services before admission. Key provisions include mandatory preadmission screening teams, determinations about care needs and alternatives, and penalties (a Class B violation) for facilities admitting patients without prior authorization. The bill aims to prevent inappropriate placements and control costs by ensuring residents meet financial criteria and receive proper review before admission.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 205 to define terms; direct the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to prepare and submit a waiver amendment application to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to amend the 1915(c) HCB waiver program to include coverage for assisted living services; establish coverage limits; require the cabinet to promulgate administrative regulations; require the cabinet or the Department for Medicaid Services to seek federal approval if it is determined that such approval is necessary; provide authorization from the General Assembly to make changes in the Medicaid program as required under KRS 205.5372(1).