(a) The Legislature finds and declares both of the following:

(1) Section Q of the Minimum Data Set, Version 3.0, developed as part of the federal government’s nursing home quality initiative, uses a person-centered approach to ensure that all individuals have the opportunity to learn about home- and community-based services and have the opportunity to receive long-term care services in the least restrictive setting possible.

(2) More community care services and support options and choices are now available to meet the care preferences and needs in the least restrictive setting possible.

(b) Nursing facilities shall either meet the residents’ discharge planning and referral needs, or make referrals to a designated local contact agency (LCA) as determined by the State Department of Health Care Services. The LCA is responsible for contacting referred residents, and for providing information and counseling on available home- and community-based services. The LCA shall also either assist directly with transition services or make referrals to organizations that assist with transition services, as appropriate.

(c) It is the intent of the Legislature to ensure that nursing home residents who, during the Minimum Data Set, Version 3.0, Section Q assessment, express interest in the possibility of receiving care and services in the community are appropriately referred by nursing facilities to the LCA, as appropriate.

(d) The State Department of Health Care Services, in collaboration with the State Department of Public Health, shall, by April 1, 2013, provide the Legislature an analysis of the appropriate sections of the Minimum Data Set, Version 3.0, Section Q and nursing facilities referrals made to the LCA. This analysis shall also document the LCA’s response to referrals from nursing facilities and the outcomes of those referrals.

(e) The State Department of Public Health and the State Department of Health Care Services shall regularly, and at least quarterly, meet with representatives from the long-term care industry, organized labor, consumers, and consumer advocates to provide updates and receive input on the planning for, implementation of, and progress of the skilled nursing facility quality improvement program. To facilitate decisionmaking, the State Department of Public Health and the State Department of Health Care Services shall promptly convene this workgroup and provide ongoing guidance to reach tangible outcomes for implementation by no later than January 2013.

(Added by Stats. 2012, Ch. 631, Sec. 7. (AB 1489) Effective September 27, 2012. Conditionally inoperative as provided in subd. (a) of Section 14126.035. Inoperative August 1, 2020, pursuant to Section 14126.036. Repealed as of January 1, 2021, pursuant to Section 14126.036.)