Section 9718.5 - Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program; facility access(a)(1)Except as provided in paragraph (2), a skilled nursing facility or residential care facility shall not, under any circumstances, deny entry to a representative of the office acting in their official capacity.(2)Notwithstanding paragraph (1), nothing in this section is intended to affect the ability of the State Public Health Officer or a local health officer to limit contact with patients or staff at a skilled nursing facility or residents or staff at a residential care facility in order to prevent or limit the spread of a contagious, infectious, or communicable disease.(b)During a state of emergency declared by the Governor, a health emergency declared by the State Public Health Officer, or a local health emergency declared by a local health officer, a skilled nursing facility or residential care facility may require the representative of the office entering the facility to adhere to infection control protocols for the duration of their visit that are no more stringent than those required for facility staff.Ca. Welf. and Inst. Code § 9718.5
Added by Stats 2022 ch 583 (AB 1855),s 2, eff. 1/1/2023.