MDOA-SP-27-04 Statewide Nursing Home Resident Council Consultation

The Maryland Long-Term Ombudsman Program (“State Program”) in the Maryland Department of Aging (“MDOA” or “Department”) seeks a consultant to organize and launch a Statewide nursing home resident council. Federal regulations require all nursing homes participating in Medicare/Medicaid services to provide residents the right to organize and participate in resident council meetings (resident councils are also sometimes referred to in the law as “resident groups”). See, e.g. , 42 C.F.R. § 483.1(b); 42 C.F.R. § 483.10(f)(5). Furthermore, per the Older Americans Act (“OAA”) and federal regulations, the State Program is required to provide technical assistance to nursing home resident councils. 42 U.S.C. § 3058g(a)(3)(H)(iii); 45 C.F.R. § 1324.13(a)(9). The establishment of this Statewide resident council will help direct ombudsman systemic advocacy for Maryland.