Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §7943, sub-§6 is enacted to read:

6.__Notice to public.__If a long-term care facility licensed under this chapter or a provider licensed under chapter 1623 violates this section by a deficiency that places a resident in imminent jeopardy, the department shall publish a notice in a newspaper of general circulation covering the area in which the long-term facility is located informing the general public of the deficiency that caused the violation.__The department shall run this notice weekly for as long as the violation is not corrected.__The provisions of this subsection do not affect any other provision regarding violations under this section.__If a penalty is imposed under this chapter for the violation, the cost of the newspaper notice must be paid by the proceeds from the penalty.__For purposes of this subsection, "imminent jeopardy" means a situation that subjects a person to possible serious injury, impairment or death.

SUMMARY

This bill requires the Department of Human Services to publish notices in a newspaper of general circulation if a long-term care facility or in-home provider of adult services has failed to correct deficiencies that places a resident in imminent jeopardy in the care it is providing.