Regards shared bathrooms under the assisted living program

HB 876 establishes a formal certification process for providers of assisted living and related long-term care services administered by the Department of Aging. Under this bill, the department cannot pay a provider for services unless they are certified and actually deliver the care, with the department empowered to set rules for certification and evaluate provider performance. The legislation also outlines specific disciplinary actions, such as warnings, fines, or revocation of certification, for issues like abuse, neglect, or financial irresponsibility. Additionally, the bill creates a framework for holding hearings to resolve disputes between the department and providers, though it allows the department to skip hearings in cases involving serious criminal convictions or existing license revocations. This measure directly affects organizations and individuals offering care under the state's assisted living and PASSPORT programs.