At the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery hearing on September 4th, Helen Magliozzi, Mass Senior Care’s Director of Regulatory Affairs, provided testimony in support of H. 1745, An Act Relative to the Safe Care of Residents with Active Substance Use Disorder Accessing Skilled Nursing Facility Care, filed by State Representative James O’Day (D-West Boylston).
This legislation would establish a Post-Acute Care Substance Use Disorder Council under the direction of the Department of Public Health (DPH) to establish standards for special care units in skilled nursing facilities for the purpose of meeting the care needs of patients with active substance use disorder who need post-acute care in skilled nursing facilities. Specifically, the bill proposes that DPH and the Council make evidenced-based recommendations in the areas of counseling, assessment, visitation policies, room search policies, medication maintenance therapy, staff training, and discharge planning. In addition, the bill would direct DPH and the Council to take into account the fiscal impact on skilled nursing facilities specific to planning for and developing special care units within their physical plant for the purpose of meeting the care needs of patients with active substance use disorder.