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State facilities expected to miss sprinkler deadline

LTC Liability Monitor, February 10, 2005

A Connecticut lawmaker is proposing legislation to delay the requirement for the installation of sprinkler systems in state nursing home for one year, the Associated Press (AP) reported. State Sen. Bob Duff proposed the extension after news that dozens of nursing homes are expected to miss the July 1 deadline because of prohibitive costs associated with installation and related expenses.

The estimated cost of installing and updating sprinkler systems in all Connecticut nursing homes is $14.6 million, or $270,000-$363,000 per facility. Cash-strapped nursing homes are unable to come up with the capital to pay for the work and do not fulfill requirements to obtain private loans.

Duff has included in his bill a suggestion from the state Department of Social Services in which the homes will borrow from revenue bonds issued by the Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority. They will then use Medicaid reimbursement for facility upgrades to repay the loans, according to AP. The sprinkler system law was enacted last year after a fire in a Harford facility killed 16 residents.

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