As LSN has informed you previously, Public Act 95-823 requires nursing homes, assisted living communities and supportive living facilities to complete annual consumer choice information reports. LSN recently attended a work group meeting with the Attorney General’s Office and timelines for the law were released during the meeting. As reported previously, the law does the following:
- Requires the Office of State Long Term Care Ombudsman to create a Consumer Choice Information Report for each type of licensed long term care facility
- Facilities would need to complete a consumer choice information questionnaire annually. LSN members worked with the Attorney General’s Office on what is included in the questionnaire.
- Requires the Ombudsmen Office to make information in the Reports accessible to the public, including on the Internet
- Provides that the Ombudsmen Office has the authority to verify that information provided by a facility is accurate;
- Provides that Reports must be filed electronically as prescribed by the Office
- Provides that IDPH shall include verification of the submission of a facility’s current Report when conducting an inspection to determine compliance with nursing home licensure requirements and standards;
- Requires that a facility retain a copy of its current Consumer Choice Information Report for public inspection.
The timeline you should be aware of regarding these reports is as follows:
April 1, 2009: The Consumer Choice Information Reports Questionnaire will be e-mailed out to all facilities.
May 1, 2009: The Attorney General’s Office will begin calling facilities to remind them of the requirement to complete the questionnaire.
June 1, 2009:The questionnaire will be due to be completed and turned in.
July 1, 2009: The online system for consumers to search information supplied by the questionnaires will be fully-operational and online.
The questionnaire was piloted by the Attorney General’s Office and LSN members took part in the pilot. LSN would like to provide Special Thanks to all members who took part in the pilot. LSN would also like to thank the following members who took part in the work group meetings with the Attorney General’s Office:
Ms. Hedy Ciocci, Administrator, Self Help Home for the Aged
Ms. Ronda Dudley, Director of Clinical Services, Christian Homes, Inc., Lincoln
Mr. Andrew Sandler, Director, CJE SeniorLife-Weinberg, Deerfield
Ms. Liz Seitz, Director, Bickford House of Rockford
Ms. Linda Shannon, Administrator, Heritage of Yorkville
Ms. Tracy Skaer-Henry, Administrator, Cambridge House of Maryville
Mr. Michael Toohey, Executive Director, Norwood Crossing, Chicago
Mr. Tom Trovatto, Regional Manager, Providence Life Services, Tinley Park
Ms. Beth Welch, Administrator, DuPage County Convalescent Center, Wheaton
Ms. Deana Wilson, Administrator, Providence Life Services, South Holland
If you have any questions regarding this law or its requirements, please contact Jason Speaks at 217.789.1677 or Jean Elliott at 630.325.6170.
