Mo. Rev. Stat. § 198.073 — MO Code / Chapter 198 / Section 198.073
198.073 Persons eligible for care in residential care facility or assisted living ...
Status: in_force

198.073. Persons eligible for care in residential care facility or assisted living facility — assisted living facility licenses granted, requirements — facility admission, requirements, disclosures — rulemaking authority. — 1. A residential care facility shall admit or retain only those persons who are capable mentally and physically of negotiating a normal path to safety using assistive devices or aids when necessary, and who may need assisted personal care within the limitations of such facilities, and who do not require hospitalization or skilled nursing care.

2. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection 1 of this section, those persons previously qualified for residence who may have a temporary period of incapacity due to illness, surgery, or injury, which period does not exceed forty-five days, may be allowed to remain in a residential care facility or assisted living facility if approved by a physician.

3. Any facility licensed as a residential care facility II on August 27, 2006, shall be granted a license as an assisted living facility, as defined in section 198.006 , on August 28, 2006, regardless of the laws, rules, and regulations for licensure as an assisted living facility as long as such facility continues to meet all laws, rules, and regulations that were in place on August 27, 2006, for a residential care facility II. At such time that the average total reimbursement, not including residents' cost-of-living increases in their benefits from the Social Security Administration after August 28, 2006, for the care of persons eligible for Medicaid in an assisted living facility is equal to or exceeds forty-one dollars per day, all facilities with a license as an assisted living facility shall meet all laws, rules, and regulations for licensure as an assisted living facility. Nothing in this section shall be construed to allow any facility that has not met the requirements of subsections 4 and 6 of this section to care for any individual with a physical, cognitive, or other impairment that prevents the individual from safely evacuating the facility.

4. Any facility licensed as an assisted living facility, as defined in section 198.006 , except for facilities licensed under subsection 3 of this section, may admit or retain an individual for residency in an assisted living facility only if the individual does not require hospitalization or skilled nursing placement, and only if the facility:

(1) Provides for or coordinates oversight and services to meet the needs of the resident as documented in a written contract signed by the resident, or legal representative of the resident;

(2) Has twenty-four-hour staff appropriate in numbers and with appropriate skills to provide such services;

(3) Has a written plan for the protection of all residents in the event of a disaster, including keeping residents in place, evacuating residents to areas of refuge, evacuating residents from the building if necessary, or other methods of protection based on the disaster and the individual building design;

(4) Completes a pre-move-in screening with participation of the prospective resident;

(5) Completes for each resident a community-based assessment, as defined in subdivision (7) of section 198.006 :

(a) Upon admission;

(b) At least semiannually; and

(c) Whenever a significant change has occurred in the resident's condition which may require a change in services;

(6) Based on the assessment in subsection 7 of this section and subdivision (5) of this subsection, develops an individualized service plan in partnership with the resident, or legal representative of the resident, that outlines the needs and preferences of the resident. The individualized service plan will be reviewed with the resident, or legal representative of the resident, at least annually, or when there is a significant change in the resident's condition which may require a change in services. The signatures of an authorized representative of the facility and the resident, or the resident's legal representative, shall be contained on the individualized service plan to acknowledge that the service plan has been reviewed and understood by the resident or legal representative;

(7) Makes available and implements self-care, productive and leisure activity programs which maximize and encourage the resident's optimal functional ability;

(8) Ensures that the residence does not accept or retain a resident who:

(a) Has exhibited behaviors that present a reasonable likelihood of serious harm to himself or herself or others;

(b) Requires physical restraint;

(c) Requires chemical restraint. As used in this paragraph, the following terms mean:

a. "Chemical restraint" , a psychopharmacologic drug that is used for discipline or convenience and not required to treat medical symptoms;

b. "Convenience" , any action taken by the facility to control resident behavior or maintain residents with a lesser amount of effort by the facility and not in the resident's best interest;

c. "Discipline" , any action taken by the facility for the purpose of punishing or penalizing residents;

(d) Requires skilled nursing services as defined in subdivision (23) of section 198.006 for which the facility is not licensed or able to provide;

(e) Requires more than one person to simultaneously physically assist the resident with any activity of daily living, with the exception of bathing and transferring;

(f) Is bed-bound or similarly immobilized due to a debilitating or chronic condition; and

(9) Develops and implements a plan to protect the rights, privacy, and safety of all residents and to protect against the financial exploitation of all residents;

(10) Complies with the training requirements of subsection 7 of section 192.2000 .

5. Exceptions to paragraphs (d) to (f) of subdivision (8) of subsection 4 of this section shall be made for residents on hospice, provided the resident, designated representative, or both, and the assisted living provider, physician, and licensed hospice provider all agree that such program of care is appropriate for the resident.

6. If an assisted living facility accepts or retains any individual with a physical, cognitive, or other impairment that prevents the individual from safely evacuating the facility with minimal assistance, the facility shall:

(1) Have sufficient staff present and awake twenty-four hours a day to assist in the evacuation;

(2) Include an individualized evacuation plan in the service plan of the resident; and

(3) Take necessary measures to provide residents with the opportunity to explore the facility and, if appropriate, its grounds; and

(4) Use a personal electronic monitoring device for any resident whose physician recommends the use of such device.

7. An individual admitted or readmitted to the facility shall have an admission physical examination by a licensed physician. Documentation should be obtained prior to admission but shall be on file not later than ten days after admission and shall contain information regarding the individual's current medical status and any special orders or procedures that should be followed. If the individual is admitted directly from a hospital or another long-term care facility and is accompanied on admission by a report that reflects his or her current medical status, an admission physical shall not be required.

8. Facilities licensed as an assisted living facility shall disclose to a prospective resident, or legal representative of the resident, information regarding the services the facility is able to provide or coordinate, the costs of such services to the resident, and the resident conditions that will require discharge or transfer, including the provisions of subdivision (8) of subsection 4 of this section.

9. After January 1, 2008, no entity shall hold itself out as an assisted living facility or advertise itself as an assisted living facility without obtaining a license from the department to operate as an assisted living facility. Any residential care facility II licensed under this chapter that does not use the term assisted living in the name of its licensed facility on or before May 1, 2006, shall be prohibited from using such term after August 28, 2006, unless such facility meets the requirements for an assisted living facility in subsection 4 of this section. Any facility licensed as an intermediate care facility prior to August 28, 2006, that provides the services of an assisted living facility, as described in paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) of subdivision (6) of section 198.006 , utilizing the social model of care, may advertise itself as an assisted living facility without obtaining a license from the department to operate as an assisted living facility.

10. The department of health and senior services shall promulgate rules to ensure compliance with this section. Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section 536.010 , that is created under the authority delegated in this section shall become effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of the provisions of chapter 536 and, if applicable, section 536.028 . This section and chapter 536 are nonseverable and if any of the powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to chapter 536 to review, to delay the effective date, or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted after August 28, 2006, shall be invalid and void.

(L. 1979 S.B. 328, et al. § 24, A.L. 1984 S.B. 451, A.L. 1992 H.B. 899 merged with S.B. 573 & 634 merged with S.B. 721, A.L. 1999 S.B. 326, A.L. 2006 S.B. 616, A.L. 2007 H.B. 952 & 674)