Home

Legislature Considers Assisted Living Licensing

Wed, 05/31/2000 - 12:00am — Karen Stevenson
Description: 

HB 1930, The Assisted Living Licensing Act, was referred to the Appropriations Committee May 1, 2000. This is an Act requiring the Department of Public Welfare to develop and implement a State plan for regulating and licensing assisted living residences and for coordination with other State and local agencies having statutory duties relating to assisted living residences and providers of assisted living services; providing for the Intra- Governmental Council on Long-Term Care, for appeals and for relocation; and prescribing penalties.

The prelude to the Act states, "In Pennsylvania, assisted living is a private market phenomenon. There is no uniform assisted living definition; no required public oversight of entities which hold themselves out as providing assisted living, although many are licensed as personal care homes; no uniform way of assuring assisted living quality; and limited access to assisted living except for persons with higher incomes. It is in the best interest of all Pennsylvanians that a system of licensure and regulation be established for assisted living residences and providers of assisted living services in order to ensure accountability and a balance of availability between institutional and home and community-based long-term care for older persons and persons with disabilities."

HB 1930, The Assisted Living Licensing Act, was referred to the Appropriations Committee May 1, 2000. This is an Act requiring the Department of Public Welfare to develop and implement a State plan for regulating and licensing assisted living residences and for coordination with other State and local agencies having statutory duties relating to assisted living residences and providers of assisted living services; providing for the Intra- Governmental Council on Long-Term Care, for appeals and for relocation; and prescribing penalties.

The prelude to the Act states, "In Pennsylvania, assisted living is a private market phenomenon. There is no uniform assisted living definition; no required public oversight of entities which hold themselves out as providing assisted living, although many are licensed as personal care homes; no uniform way of assuring assisted living quality; and limited access to assisted living except for persons with higher incomes. It is in the best interest of all Pennsylvanians that a system of licensure and regulation be established for assisted living residences and providers of assisted living services in order to ensure accountability and a balance of availability between institutional and home and community-based long-term care for older persons and persons with disabilities."