HD33 - Final Report: Impact of Assisted Living Facility Regulations


Executive Summary:
The Appropriation Act requires JLARC to report on the impact of new regulations adopted pursuant to 2005 legislation on assisted living facilities (ALFs).

This report provides a "snapshot" of the assisted living industry early in the implementation of the new law and regulations, which phase in between 2005 and 2008. Implementation is on schedule, with one exception.

This report found that most ALFs have no recent history of verified complaints or compliance problems. Twenty percent of all ALFs, however, do have compliance problems and/or an above-average number of verified complaints in the recent past.

While the new law and regulations will strengthen such keys to quality care as medication administration and staff training, low-income residents will continue to have problems accessing ALFs, as 41 localities have no ALFs with auxiliary grant beds.

New costs also stem from the new law and regulations. These costs will be a particular problem for the estimated 200 ALFs that serve mostly low-income residents because the State auxiliary grant rate is low relative to the current market price. Many of these facilities will continue to have difficulty complying with the standards.