Sec. 19a-122b. Hospice care programs and services. Initial licensing requirements. Prohibited use of terms "hospice" and "hospice care program".
Sec. 19a-122b. Hospice care programs and services. Initial licensing requirements. Prohibited use of terms "hospice" and "hospice care program". (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of chapters 368v and 368z, an organization licensed as a hospice
pursuant to the Public Health Code or certified as a hospice pursuant to 42 USC 1395x,
shall be authorized to operate a residence for terminally ill persons, for the purpose of
providing hospice home care arrangements including, but not limited to, hospice home
care services and supplemental services. Such arrangements shall be provided to those
patients who would otherwise receive such care from family members. The residence
shall provide a homelike atmosphere for such patients for a time period deemed appropriate for home health care services under like circumstances. Any hospice that operates
a residence pursuant to the provisions of this section shall cooperate with the Commissioner of Public Health to develop standards for the licensure and operation of such
homes.
(b) On and after January 1, 2008, any organization seeking initial licensure as a
hospice by the Department of Public Health shall (1) agree to provide hospice care
services for terminally ill persons on a twenty-four-hour basis in all settings including,
but not limited to, a private home, nursing home, residential care home or specialized
residence that provides supportive services, and (2) present to the department satisfactory evidence that such organization has the necessary qualified personnel to provide
services in such settings.
(c) No organization may use the title "hospice" or "hospice care program" or make
use of any title, words, letters or abbreviations indicating or implying that such organization is licensed to provide hospice services unless such organization is licensed to provide such services by the Department of Public Health and certified as a hospice pursuant
to 42 USC 1395x.
(P.A. 92-33, S. 1, 2; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 57; 95-297; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-2, S. 118, 165;
P.A. 00-135, S. 5, 21; May 9 Sp. Sess. P.A. 02-7, S. 96; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, S. 204; P.A. 07-23, S. 1.)
History: P.A. 93-381 replaced commissioner of health services with commissioner of public health and addiction
services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction
Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 95-297 extended the program's
expiration date from 1995 to 1997; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-2 extended the pilot program from 1997 to 2000, effective
July 1, 1997; P.A. 00-135 extended the pilot program from 2000 to 2001, effective May 26, 2000; May 9 Sp. Sess. P.A.
02-7 extended the pilot program from 2001 to 2006, effective August 15, 2002; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6 deleted
references to operation of program "on a pilot basis" and expiration date of October 1, 2006, effective August 20, 2003;
P.A. 07-23 designated existing provisions as Subsec. (a) and made technical changes therein, added Subsec. (b) re requirements for organizations seeking initial licensure as a hospice and added Subsec. (c) re use of the title "hospice" and "hospice
care program".