2013 Minnesota Statutes

CHAPTER 144G. ASSISTED LIVING SERVICES

144G.01 DEFINITIONS.

Subdivision 1.Scope; other definitions.

For purposes of sections 144G.01 to 144G.05, the following definitions apply. In addition, the definitions provided in section 144D.01 also apply to sections 144G.01 to 144G.05.

Subd. 2.Assisted living.

"Assisted living" means a service or package of services advertised, marketed, or otherwise described, offered, or promoted using the phrase "assisted living" either alone or in combination with other words, whether orally or in writing, and which is subject to the requirements of this chapter.

Subd. 3.Assisted living client.

"Assisted living client" or "client" means a housing with services resident who receives assisted living that is subject to the requirements of this chapter.

Subd. 4.Commissioner.

"Commissioner" means the commissioner of health.

History:

2006 c 282 art 19 s 13

144G.02 ASSISTED LIVING; PROTECTED TITLE; REGULATORY FUNCTION.

Subdivision 1.Protected title; restriction on use.

No person or entity may use the phrase "assisted living," whether alone or in combination with other words and whether orally or in writing, to advertise, market, or otherwise describe, offer, or promote itself, or any housing, service, service package, or program that it provides within this state, unless the person or entity is a housing with services establishment that meets the requirements of this chapter, or is a person or entity that provides some or all components of assisted living that meet the requirements of this chapter. A person or entity entitled to use the phrase "assisted living" shall use the phrase only in the context of its participation in assisted living that meets the requirements of this chapter. A housing with services establishment offering or providing assisted living that is not made available to residents in all of its housing units shall identify the number or location of the units in which assisted living is available, and may not use the term "assisted living" in the name of the establishment registered with the commissioner under chapter 144D, or in the name the establishment uses to identify itself to residents or the public.

Subd. 2.Authority of commissioner.

(a) The commissioner, upon receipt of information that may indicate the failure of a housing with services establishment, the arranged home care provider, an assisted living client, or an assisted living client's representative to comply with a legal requirement to which one or more of the entities may be subject, shall make appropriate referrals to other governmental agencies and entities having jurisdiction over the subject matter. The commissioner may also make referrals to any public or private agency the commissioner considers available for appropriate assistance to those involved.

(b) In addition to the authority with respect to licensed home care providers under sections 144A.45 and 144A.46 and with respect to housing with services establishments under chapter 144D, the commissioner shall have standing to bring an action for injunctive relief in the district court in the district in which a housing with services establishment is located to compel the housing with services establishment or the arranged home care provider to meet the requirements of this chapter or other requirements of the state or of any county or local governmental unit to which the establishment or arranged home care provider is otherwise subject. Proceedings for securing an injunction may be brought by the commissioner through the attorney general or through the appropriate county attorney. The sanctions in this section do not restrict the availability of other sanctions.

History:

2006 c 282 art 19 s 14

144G.03 ASSISTED LIVING REQUIREMENTS.

Subdivision 1.Verification in annual registration.

A registered housing with services establishment using the phrase "assisted living," pursuant to section 144G.02, subdivision 1, shall verify to the commissioner in its annual registration pursuant to chapter 144D that the establishment is complying with sections 144G.01 to 144G.05, as applicable.

Subd. 2.Minimum requirements for assisted living.

(a) Assisted living shall be provided or made available only to individuals residing in a registered housing with services establishment. Except as expressly stated in this chapter, a person or entity offering assisted living may define the available services and may offer assisted living to all or some of the residents of a housing with services establishment. The services that comprise assisted living may be provided or made available directly by a housing with services establishment or by persons or entities with which the housing with services establishment has made arrangements.

(b) A person or entity entitled to use the phrase "assisted living," according to section 144G.02, subdivision 1, shall do so only with respect to a housing with services establishment, or a service, service package, or program available within a housing with services establishment that, at a minimum:

(1) provides or makes available health-related services under a class A or class F home care license. At a minimum, health-related services must include:

(i) assistance with self-administration of medication as defined in Minnesota Rules, part 4668.0003, subpart 2a, or medication administration as defined in Minnesota Rules, part 4668.0003, subpart 21a; and

(ii) assistance with at least three of the following seven activities of daily living: bathing, dressing, grooming, eating, transferring, continence care, and toileting.

All health-related services shall be provided in a manner that complies with applicable home care licensure requirements in chapter 144A, sections 148.171 to 148.285, and Minnesota Rules, chapter 4668;

(2) provides necessary assessments of the physical and cognitive needs of assisted living clients by a registered nurse, as required by applicable home care licensure requirements in chapter 144A, sections 148.171 to 148.285, and Minnesota Rules, chapter 4668;

(3) has and maintains a system for delegation of health care activities to unlicensed assistive health care personnel by a registered nurse, including supervision and evaluation of the delegated activities as required by applicable home care licensure requirements in chapter 144A, sections 148.171 to 148.285, and Minnesota Rules, chapter 4668;

(4) provides staff access to an on-call registered nurse 24 hours per day, seven days per week;

(5) has and maintains a system to check on each assisted living client at least daily;

(6) provides a means for assisted living clients to request assistance for health and safety needs 24 hours per day, seven days per week, from the establishment or a person or entity with which the establishment has made arrangements;

(7) has a person or persons available 24 hours per day, seven days per week, who is responsible for responding to the requests of assisted living clients for assistance with health or safety needs, who shall be:

(i) awake;

(ii) located in the same building, in an attached building, or on a contiguous campus with the housing with services establishment in order to respond within a reasonable amount of time;

(iii) capable of communicating with assisted living clients;

(iv) capable of recognizing the need for assistance;

(v) capable of providing either the assistance required or summoning the appropriate assistance; and

(vi) capable of following directions;

(8) offers to provide or make available at least the following supportive services to assisted living clients:

(i) two meals per day;

(ii) weekly housekeeping;

(iii) weekly laundry service;

(iv) upon the request of the client, reasonable assistance with arranging for transportation to medical and social services appointments, and the name of or other identifying information about the person or persons responsible for providing this assistance;

(v) upon the request of the client, reasonable assistance with accessing community resources and social services available in the community, and the name of or other identifying information about the person or persons responsible for providing this assistance; and

(vi) periodic opportunities for socialization; and

(9) makes available to all prospective and current assisted living clients information consistent with the uniform format and the required components adopted by the commissioner under section 144G.06. This information must be made available beginning no later than six months after the commissioner makes the uniform format and required components available to providers according to section 144G.06.

Subd. 3.Exemption from awake-staff requirement.

A housing with services establishment that offers or provides assisted living is exempt from the requirement in subdivision 2, paragraph (b), clause (7), item (i), that the person or persons available and responsible for responding to requests for assistance must be awake, if the establishment meets the following requirements:

(1) the establishment has a maximum capacity to serve 12 or fewer assisted living clients;

(2) the person or persons available and responsible for responding to requests for assistance are physically present within the housing with services establishment in which the assisted living clients reside;

(3) the establishment has a system in place that is compatible with the health, safety, and welfare of the establishment's assisted living clients;

(4) the establishment's housing with services contract, as required by section 144D.04, includes a statement disclosing the establishment's qualification for, and intention to rely upon, this exemption;

(5) the establishment files with the commissioner, for purposes of public information but not review or approval by the commissioner, a statement describing how the establishment meets the conditions in clauses (1) to (4), and makes a copy of this statement available to actual and prospective assisted living clients; and

(6) the establishment indicates on its housing with services registration, under section 144D.02 or 144D.03, as applicable, that it qualifies for and intends to rely upon the exemption under this subdivision.

Subd. 4.Nursing assessment.

(a) A housing with services establishment offering or providing assisted living shall:

(1) offer to have the arranged home care provider conduct a nursing assessment by a registered nurse of the physical and cognitive needs of the prospective resident and propose a service agreement or service plan prior to the date on which a prospective resident executes a contract with a housing with services establishment or the date on which a prospective resident moves in, whichever is earlier; and

(2) inform the prospective resident of the availability of and contact information for long-term care consultation services under section 256B.0911, prior to the date on which a prospective resident executes a contract with a housing with services establishment or the date on which a prospective resident moves in, whichever is earlier.

(b) An arranged home care provider is not obligated to conduct a nursing assessment by a registered nurse when requested by a prospective resident if either the geographic distance between the prospective resident and the provider, or urgent or unexpected circumstances, do not permit the assessment to be conducted prior to the date on which the prospective resident executes a contract or moves in, whichever is earlier. When such circumstances occur, the arranged home care provider shall offer to conduct a telephone conference whenever reasonably possible.

(c) The arranged home care provider shall comply with applicable home care licensure requirements in chapter 144A, sections 148.171 to 148.285, and Minnesota Rules, chapter 4668, with respect to the provision of a nursing assessment prior to the delivery of nursing services and the execution of a home care service plan or service agreement.

Subd. 5.Assistance with arranged home care provider.

The housing with services establishment shall provide each assisted living client with identifying information about a person or persons reasonably available to assist the client with concerns the client may have with respect to the services provided by the arranged home care provider. The establishment shall keep each assisted living client reasonably informed of any changes in the personnel referenced in this subdivision. Upon request of the assisted living client, such personnel or designee shall provide reasonable assistance to the assisted living client in addressing concerns regarding services provided by the arranged home care provider.

Subd. 6.Termination of housing with services contract.

If a housing with services establishment terminates a housing with services contract with an assisted living client, the establishment shall provide the assisted living client, and the legal or designated representative of the assisted living client, if any, with a written notice of termination which includes the following information:

(1) the effective date of termination;

(2) the section of the contract that authorizes the termination;

(3) without extending the termination notice period, an affirmative offer to meet with the assisted living client and, if applicable, client representatives, within no more than five business days of the date of the termination notice to discuss the termination;

(4) an explanation that:

(i) the assisted living client must vacate the apartment, along with all personal possessions, on or before the effective date of termination;

(ii) failure to vacate the apartment by the date of termination may result in the filing of an eviction action in court by the establishment, and that the assisted living client may present a defense, if any, to the court at that time; and

(iii) the assisted living client may seek legal counsel in connection with the notice of termination;

(5) a statement that, with respect to the notice of termination, reasonable accommodation is available for the disability of the assisted living client, if any; and

(6) the name and contact information of the representative of the establishment with whom the assisted living client or client representatives may discuss the notice of termination.

History:

2006 c 282 art 19 s 15

144G.04 RESERVATION OF RIGHTS.

Subdivision 1.Use of services.

Nothing in this chapter requires an assisted living client to utilize any service provided or made available in assisted living.

Subd. 2.Housing with services contracts.

Nothing in this chapter requires a housing with services establishment to execute or refrain from terminating a housing with services contract with a prospective or current resident who is unable or unwilling to meet the requirements of residency, with or without assistance.

Subd. 3.Provision of services.

Nothing in this chapter requires the arranged home care provider to offer or continue to provide services under a service agreement or service plan to a prospective or current resident of the establishment whose needs cannot be met by the arranged home care provider.

Subd. 4.Altering operations; service packages.

Nothing in this chapter requires a housing with services establishment or arranged home care provider offering assisted living to fundamentally alter the nature of the operations of the establishment or the provider in order to accommodate the request or need for facilities or services by any assisted living client, or to refrain from requiring, as a condition of residency, that an assisted living client pay for a package of assisted living services even if the client does not choose to utilize all or some of the services in the package.

History:

2006 c 282 art 19 s 16

144G.05 REIMBURSEMENT UNDER ASSISTED LIVING SERVICE PACKAGES.

Notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter, the requirements for the elderly waiver program's assisted living payment rates under section 256B.0915, subdivision 3e, shall continue to be effective and providers who do not meet the requirements of this chapter may continue to receive payment under section 256B.0915, subdivision 3e, as long as they continue to meet the definitions and standards for assisted living and assisted living plus set forth in the federally approved Elderly Home and Community Based Services Waiver Program (Control Number 0025.91). Providers of assisted living for the Community Alternatives for Disabled Individuals (CADI) and Brain Injury (BI) waivers shall continue to receive payment as long as they continue to meet the definitions and standards for assisted living and assisted living plus set forth in the federally approved CADI and BI waiver plans.

History:

2006 c 282 art 19 s 17; 2012 c 216 art 14 s 2

144G.06 UNIFORM CONSUMER INFORMATION GUIDE.

(a) The commissioner of health shall establish an advisory committee consisting of representatives of consumers, providers, county and state officials, and other groups the commissioner considers appropriate. The advisory committee shall present recommendations to the commissioner on:

(1) a format for a guide to be used by individual providers of assisted living, as defined in section 144G.01, that includes information about services offered by that provider, which services may be covered by Medicare, service costs, and other relevant provider-specific information, as well as a statement of philosophy and values associated with assisted living, presented in uniform categories that facilitate comparison with guides issued by other providers; and

(2) requirements for informing assisted living clients, as defined in section 144G.01, of their applicable legal rights.

(b) The commissioner, after reviewing the recommendations of the advisory committee, shall adopt a uniform format for the guide to be used by individual providers, and the required components of materials to be used by providers to inform assisted living clients of their legal rights, and shall make the uniform format and the required components available to assisted living providers.

History:

2006 c 282 art 19 s 18; 1Sp2010 c 1 art 17 s 5