California Health Advocates submitted a letter in support of AB 279 (Muratsuchi), The ICF and SNF Resident Protection Act of 2021. This bill would prohibit the owner of a nursing home from involuntarily transferring a resident to another facility, during any declared state of emergency relating to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), except if the owner files for bankruptcy. While California and federal law does give residents and their families the right to participate in the selection of any new home before transfer and require adequate notice and the opportunity for an appeal, these laws, unfortunately, are routinely ignored by facility owners. This is true even during the current state of emergency. This bill would protect vulnerable long-term care residents across the state during the worst public health crisis in a century.
Read the full letter for details.
