GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1999

H	2

HOUSE BILL 60*
Corrected Copy 3/16/99

Short Title:  Long-Term Care Safety Initiative.	(Public)
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Sponsors: Representatives Earle; Alexander, Bonner, Boyd-McIntyre, Braswell, Bridgeman, Cox, Easterling, Goodwin, Hardaway, Hurley, Insko, Luebke, McLawhorn, Melton, Moore, Mosley, Saunders, Thomas, Wainwright, Warren, C. Wilson, and Yongue.
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Referred to:  Rules, Calendar and Operations of the House.
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February 10, 1999

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO ENACT REFORMS IN THE LONG-TERM CARE INDUSTRY IN ORDER TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF CARE, INCREASE PROTECTION OF RESIDENTS, AND STRENGTHEN STATE OVERSIGHT OF INDUSTRY PRACTICES.
Whereas, because of shorter hospital stays, acutely ill elderly and disabled citizens are more often being sent directly from the hospital to a nursing home because of the need for higher levels of care; and
Whereas, the likelihood is increasing that adult care home residents will experience significant problems with activities of daily living and will therefore need heavy-care services; and
Whereas, although many adult care homes and nursing homes are able to provide adequate care and good quality of life for their residents, others of these homes are understaffed and provide inadequate services; and
Whereas, staffing and service problems encompass not only staff-to-resident ratios but also insufficient staff training, staff incompetence, and failure to provide needed services for which the State has already paid; and
Whereas, although recent changes in State law have improved certain conditions in some long-term care facilities, the changes have not significantly improved the lives of many of the State's long-term care residents; and
Whereas, lapses in adequate care have compromised the safety of residents and have lead to unhealthy, unkind, and sometimes tragic results; and
Whereas, when experience shows that certain industry practices jeopardize the health and safety of long-term care residents, then the State should strengthen its oversight of the industry to the extent necessary to protect and preserve the well-being of its elderly and disabled citizens; Now, therefore, 
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  This act is effective when it becomes law.