A staff report submitted to Virginia’s Joint Commission on Health Care (JCHC) lays out five policy options related to back up emergency generators at assisted living facilities (ALFs). The Commission, which is made up of members of the General Assembly, will vote on a preferred policy recommendation at its November 7 meeting. 

In presenting the policy options, JCHC staff focused on the cost of installing the generators.  Del. Patrick Hope (D-Arlington), whose study resolution in the 2018 General Assembly session prompted the analysis, questioned the costs. Del. Hope asked whether costs were driven up because the generators were being used to fully power a facility, not running only the essential needs. Staff explained that the costs include design, purchase, installation, and verification that the system is up to code.

The policy options are:

• Option 1: Take no action

• Option 2: Introduce legislation requiring all licensed ALFs have back up emergency generators onsite and in operating order pursuant to the NFPA 110-1 standards and taking into consideration the requirements, exemptions, and extensions contained within the laws of Maryland.

• Option 3: The same as Option 2, but only applicable to licensed ALFs with a capacity of seven beds or more.

• Option 4: The same as Option 2 plus the introduction of legislation that would add a tax exemption for all costs associated with the purchase and installation of such generators by ALFs.

• Option 5: The same as Option 4, but only applicable to licensed ALFs with a capacity of seven beds or more.

Written public comments on the proposed options may be submitted to JCHC by close of business on October 26, 2018.

Comments may be submitted as follows:  

• E-mail: jchcpubliccomments@jchc.virginia.gov
• Fax: 804-786-5538
• Mail: Joint Commission on Health Care P.O. Box 1322 Richmond, Virginia 23218

Comments will be provided to commission members and summarized during the November 7 meeting.

The staff report also includes the results of the survey conducted over the summer for which ALFs self-reported their generator capacity. Click here to read the full report.

VHCA-VCAL has been involved in supporting the study process by participating in meetings with the JCHC staff conducting the study and in sharing the survey with members.