April 26, 2012

REP. GENGA HAILS PASSAGE OF HOSPICE REGULATIONS BILL

State Rep. Henry Genga (D-East Hartford) hailed the unanimous House passage of legislation he co-sponsored that updates state regulations relating to hospice care in Connecticut – the first such reform in at least 35 years. The legislation now moves to the State Senate.

The legislation (HB 5499) seeks to expand the opportunities for smaller community-based hospices to operate in Connecticut and gives smaller hospice facilities across the state the ability to provide high quality services, while allowing patients to stay close to friends and family. Currently, there are just two licensed hospices in the state.

The bill facilitates the creation of hospices that offer both in-patient and home-based hospice services. The state has two residential hospices regulated under provisions that date to the 1970s using a model equivalent to the regulation of skilled nursing homes, Genga said.

“Today's needs have changed and this bill encourages the move toward new regulations that will allow the addition of smaller, more home-like residential models that will serve many more areas of the state,” he said.

The bill also assures that no invasive procedures will be performed on a patient at a hospice facility and that the Department of Public Health maintains oversight of hospice facilities.