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ANNAPOLIS, MD — In a decisive move to protect Maryland’s most vulnerable residents, state legislators have passed two critical bills aimed at bolstering oversight in assisted living and nursing homes and ending the practice of unsafe discharges.
Recognizing that effective oversight requires consistent financial support, Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman - Mandatory Appropriation (SB 340/HB 671) was signed into law today by Governor Wes Moore, establishing a permanent, mandatory $2 million annual appropriation for the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman. Sponsored by Senator Shelly Hettleman, Delegate Emily Shetty, and Delegate Lesley Lopez, the bill ensures the state's advocacy infrastructure for long-term care residents remains robust.
“No Marylander should have to live in a long-term care home where safety and dignity are anything less than guaranteed,” said Delegate Shetty. “By securing permanent funding to strengthen oversight, we are making sure every resident has a strong, independent advocate. This is about building a lasting system of accountability that protects long-term care residents across Maryland and ensures no one is overlooked.”
Taking effect July 1, SB 340/HB 671 creates a sustainable funding stream to investigate complaints and uphold high standards of care. Crucially, these funds will supplement, rather than replace, existing resources, putting more advocates on the ground to protect older Marylanders and people with disabilities.
“The resources expanding this office will enable the ombudsman to provide more services to more Marylanders,” said Senator Hettleman. “As our community ages and older adults become a larger percentage of our population, the Maryland Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program will play an increasingly important role in ensuring older adults have a direct avenue for help when they need an advocate.”
Another critical bill, Nursing Facilities - Involuntary Discharge or Transfer, (SB 493/HB 1002) signed by Gov. Moore earlier this month and introduced by Senate Finance Committee Chair Senator Pamela Beidle and Delegate Lesley Lopez, tackles the devastating issue of involuntary discharges and transfers from nursing homes.
“Maryland nursing home residents deserve a discharge process that is safe, transparent, and dignified,” said Delegate Lopez. “By codifying these rigorous standards for transitions, we are ensuring that every resident is treated as a person with rights, not a liability to be moved. This legislation is about restoring trust in our care systems and ensuring that a transfer is always handled with the humanity and care it requires.”
Taking effect October 1, key provisions of SB 493/HB 1002 include:
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Universal Protection: Removes the 30-day rule, ensuring that all residents—regardless of their length of stay—are entitled to a 30-day involuntary discharge notice.
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Mandatory Safety Standards: Mandates that any discharge location must be verified as safe, secure, and sustainable. Residents can no longer be sent to locations not explicitly listed on their discharge notice.
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Verified Transitions: Discharging nursing homes are now legally required to obtain formal confirmation from the receiving facility that they are prepared to accept the resident.
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Enhanced Transparency: Introduces a new discharge notice process. If discharge plans change, a new notice must be issued, granting the resident fresh appeal rights.
“These bills provide the tools we need to strengthen individual and systemic advocacy,” said State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Karrie Craig. “With these new protections, our office can stand even firmer alongside residents, ensuring that no one is forced to navigate the complexities of long-term care alone. Maryland is setting a new standard for resident rights, proving that dignity must be the foundation of every care transition.”
These legislative victories align with the Longevity Ready Maryland multisector plan for aging, which recognizes that as Maryland’s population ages, the systems designed to protect us must grow stronger, more transparent, and more accountable.
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