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2020 Special Session I

Budget Amendments - HB5005 (Conference Report)

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Priority Testing Access for Long-Term Care Facilities (language only)

Item 299 #3c

Item 299 #3c

Health and Human Resources
Department of Health

Language

Page 109, after line 3, insert:

"I.  The State Health Commissioner shall ensure that residents and employees of any nursing home or assisted living facility receive priority for testing indicating the existence of the COVID-19 virus in the Commonwealth.  The Commissioner shall make available public health testing, if necessary, in order to ensure that nursing homes or assisted living facilities have access to testing that can provide the most rapid results in order to prevent or contain outbreaks of COVID-19.  Such testing shall be provided, as needed, by the Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services or other public health testing agencies of the Commonwealth.  Any testing costs through the public health system for employees or residents of nursing homes or assisted living facilities may be billed to responsible third-parties."



Explanation

(This amendment provides for residents and employees of nursing facilities or assisted living facilities to have priority in testing for COVID-19 to help prevent or contain outbreaks in such long-term care facilities, where the most vulnerable and fatal impacts from COVID-19 have occurred to date. It is the intent of the General Assembly that this item be set out upon enrolling.)