(a) An organization licensed as a hospice by the Department of Public Health shall be authorized to (1) operate a hospice facility, including a hospice residence, that provides inpatient hospice services, or (2) provide hospice home care services for terminally ill persons. Such services shall be provided to those patients who would otherwise receive such care from family members. The facility or residence shall provide a homelike atmosphere for such patients for a time period deemed appropriate for home health care services under like circumstances. Any hospice that operates a facility or residence pursuant to the provisions of this section shall cooperate with the Commissioner of Public Health to develop standards for the licensure and operation of such facility or residence.

(b) On and after January 1, 2008, any organization seeking initial licensure as a hospice by the Department of Public Health shall (1) agree to provide hospice care services for terminally ill persons on a twenty-four-hour basis in all settings including, but not limited to, a private home, nursing home, residential care home or specialized residence that provides supportive services, and (2) present to the department satisfactory evidence that such organization has the necessary qualified personnel to provide services in such settings.

(c) No organization may use the title “hospice” or “hospice care program” or make use of any title, words, letters or abbreviations indicating or implying that such organization is licensed to provide hospice services unless such organization is licensed to provide such services by the Department of Public Health.

(P.A. 92-33, S. 1, 2; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 57; 95-297; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-2, S. 118, 165; P.A. 00-135, S. 5, 21; May 9 Sp. Sess. P.A. 02-7, S. 96; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, S. 204; P.A. 07-23, S. 1; P.A. 12-140, S. 1.)

History: P.A. 93-381 replaced commissioner of health services with commissioner of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 95-297 extended the program's expiration date from 1995 to 1997; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-2 extended the pilot program from 1997 to 2000, effective July 1, 1997; P.A. 00-135 extended the pilot program from 2000 to 2001, effective May 26, 2000; May 9 Sp. Sess. P.A. 02-7 extended the pilot program from 2001 to 2006, effective August 15, 2002; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6 deleted references to operation of program “on a pilot basis” and expiration date of October 1, 2006, effective August 20, 2003; P.A. 07-23 designated existing provisions as Subsec. (a) and made technical changes therein, added Subsec. (b) re requirements for organizations seeking initial licensure as a hospice and added Subsec. (c) re use of the title “hospice” and “hospice care program”; P.A. 12-140 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting provision notwithstanding Chs. 368v and 368z, deleting references to public health code and federal statute, revising description of a hospice facility, and making conforming changes and amended Subsec. (c) by deleting provision re certification pursuant to federal statute, effective June 15, 2012.