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Bill

HB 945

Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Facilities - Notification of Investigations and Establishment of the Health Care Quality Improvement Initiative

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Tiffany Alston and 15 co-sponsors

Maryland nursing homes must notify and consult families when complaints are filed against facilities, increasing family oversight and transparency in resident care.

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Bill Summary · HB 945

Legislative bill overview

HB 945 requires nursing homes to establish formal procedures for notifying and consulting with residents' families when complaints are filed against the facility. The bill mandates that facilities must inform designated family contacts about complaints and involve them in the resolution process, creating accountability mechanisms for resident care issues.

Why is this important

Nursing home complaints often involve vulnerable populations with limited ability to advocate for themselves. This transparency requirement ensures families stay informed about potential care quality issues and can participate in oversight, addressing a significant information gap that currently exists between facility operations and family members responsible for resident welfare.

Potential points of contention

  • Administrative burden: Facilities may argue that mandatory notification procedures create significant compliance costs and paperwork, particularly for homes already managing high complaint volumes
  • Privacy and confidentiality concerns: Questions about how to balance resident privacy rights with family notification, especially regarding sensitive health or behavioral complaints
  • Defining scope of complaints: Unclear whether "complaints" includes all concerns or only serious allegations, potentially creating disputes over what triggers notification requirements

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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