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A third attempt at passing a bill requiring Colorado long-term care and other healthcare facilities to allow at least one visitor during public health emergencies could signal a strikeout or be the charm sought by families.
Colorado Senate Bill 53 would require assisted living communities, skilled nursing facilities and hospitals to have clear visitation policies, including visitation during infectious disease outbreaks.
The bill would prohibit providers from adopting policies or procedures that limit visitation solely to reduce the risk of transmission of a pandemic disease. But facilities could require testing, masking and signed waivers acknowledging the risks of entering a facility. They also could deny entrance to visitors showing symptoms of illness.
LeadingAge Colorado is monitoring the bill, but Director of Public Policy and Public Affairs Deborah Lively told McKnight’s Senior Living that the legislation appears to be consistent with state and federal COVID-19 visitation guidance for assisted living communities and nursing homes.
SB 53 is the third attempt to allow visitation at healthcare facilities during the pandemic. A 2021 version of the bill ran into issues over conflicts between state policy and federal Medicaid and Medicare requirements. The latest version states that facilities cannot impose limitations that are more restrictive than current visitation guidelines from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
From March 2020 to March 2021, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment received 52 complaints regarding visitation at assisted living communities, nursing facilities and group homes.
The only opposition to the bill came from the Colorado Hospital Association. A representative testified at a recent hearing that the bill lacked flexibility for facilities to respond to rapidly evolving public health scenarios.
Action on the bill was postponed following that hearing to gather additional information and answer questions raised by witnesses.
