Proposed bills with backing from senior living groups would remove a barrier to access to assisted living care and provide the industry a seat at the table on decisions affecting the sector in Illinois.
House Bill 3172 would remove language in the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act that states that older adults cannot live in assisted living communities if they require sliding scale insulin to be administered by a licensed healthcare professional. As it now stands, residents who cannot find or afford a private-duty, licensed healthcare professional must move to a skilled nursing setting.
According to LeadingAge Illinois, the current system decreases resident independence and prevents older adults from living in the least restrictive environment for them, which violates their rights.
“Passing HB3172 will allow residents in assisted living to get the insulin support they need instead of having to move to a skilled nursing facility,” LeadingAge Illinois President and CEO Anglea Schnepf told McKnight’s Senior Living. “HB3172 will give residents more choice and the opportunity to have more consistent insulin support.”
Matt Hartman, executive director of the Illinois Health Care Association, also said that the language change would allow older adults to continue living in a less restrictive setting longer.
“Treatment of diabetes is, obviously, a serious matter, but it is well understood and certainly with the capabilities of nurses working in the profession,” Hartman told McKnight’s Senior Living. “This will allow for less disruption in a resident’s life if they find themselves diagnosed with diabetes later in life, allowing them to continue to enjoy a quality of life in an environment they are used to for a longer period of time.”
A seat at the table
Meanwhile, Senate Bill 1814 would establish a governor-appointed Assisted Living and Shared Housing Advisory Board in Illinois. The board would discuss issues affecting assisted living, as well as analyze and make recommendations to the Illinois Department of Public Health on proposed rules related to the sector.
Members would serve three-year terms and include representatives from the assisted living industry as well as state government agencies and the medical, legal and research professions.
Hartman said that the language in the bill is important because the assisted living setting increasingly has been targeted for new and more regulation.
“As these providers continue to see more regulation, there should be a review process allowing for ample provider input,” Hartman said. “We have similar boards for the skilled nursing and developmental disability settings, and they have helped to appropriately hone regulations for those settings and create solutions that worked for providers and regulators alike.”
With more than 500 assisted living communities in the state, Schnepf added, the formation of the board would ensure that all “impacted constituent voices” are heard.
“These advisory boards of providers, consumers and advocates come together to discuss quality, seek regulatory guidance, and provide input on proposed regulations, best practices and more,” she said. “This has proven effective in ensuring all impacted voices are heard, not only by the department, but by each other.”
