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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Lawrence Curry |
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Curry bill regarding regulations for small hospices heading to governor's desk
HARRISBURG, Oct. 8 – Legislation sponsored by state Rep. Lawrence Curry, D-Montgomery/Phila., that would create unique licensing regulations for small residential hospices has been approved by the House and Senate and is now headed to the governor for his signature.
Currently, smaller hospice homes are required to meet the same construction and life-safety codes that apply to hospitals and skilled nursing facilities.
"Because small, freestanding residential hospices are unable to meet current nursing facility standards, many are being licensed as personal care homes. That limits the range of services they can offer patients, and limits choices for individuals who are dying and have elected hospice care," Curry said.
House Bill 2629 would require the Pennsylvania Department of Health to develop regulations that define a "small residential hospice" as a facility licensed for 22 or fewer beds (larger institutions would be required to meet the institutional health-care facility standards) and, subject to the approval of the Federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, permit a small residential hospice facility to comply with the National Fire Protection Association's "Life Safety Code" standards for residential and boarding care rather than the Health Care Facility standards.
House Bill 2629 has the support of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare, and the Governor's Office of Health Care Reform
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