MACCRA History Timeline

Click on the + symbol on the right to see full-text of each time period. 

1993 - started by Robert Sparks

MaCCRA was started in 1993 by Robert Sparks PhD, an economist, who worked for the State of Maryland. Bob was a Quaker member of the Stony Run Meeting House in Baltimore. He located and guided the purchase and establishment of Broadmead, a CCRC in Cockeysville/Hunt Valley Maryland.

Other Broadmead residents as well as residents of other CCRCs in the Baltimore Washington area joined in the effort to establish an organization thata devoted its efforts exclusively to the interests of CCRC residents. This was in response to a realization that even though many providers believed that they were acting in the best interests of Residents there were occasions when it might not be clear to the providers what were the “best interests”. Also because some CCRCs are of the “for profit” type the providers interests might be different from those of the residents.

MaCCRA is designed to keep Residents informed as to what is happening in the CCRC industry and at the Department of Aging and the legislature which might impact on Residents situations; and to be the Resident’s voice in the legislature when necessary. MaCCRA is not intended or designed to be an anti­ provider organization, in fact it tries to coordinate its activities with providers whenever possible.

1993 - Initial startup meeting

1993 – Summer – Initial startup meeting hosted by MANPHA (Maryland Association of Non-Profit Homes for the Aging) by resident Bob Sparks, resident Broadmead, Inc.

1993 - November - First Annual Meeting

1993 November – MaCCRA’s First Annual meeting, Senator Paula Hollinger was the keynote speaker.

1994 - MaCCRA first introduced legislation.

1994 MaCCRA first introduced legislation. MANPHA was at odds with MaCCRA and testified against the bill. The Senate Finance Committee instructed both MANPHA and MaCCRA to sit down and arrive at a compromise. Accord was reached but the legislation wasn’t passed.

1994 - Continuiing Care Advisory Committee

Worked with MANPHA and the Office on Aging to establish a Continuing Care Advisory Committee.

1995-1996 MaCCRA working with MANPHA

1995-1996 MaCCRA working with MANPHA, the Department of Aging, and consumers developed amendments to Article 70B. This legislation (SB 543) is an important achievement as it established requirements concerning the following: the operating reserve, governance, disclosure statement, transfer of assets, change of ownership, bankruptcy, renovations and expansions.

1997 - SB 332/HB 783 - “Health Maintenance Organizations - Referrals to Continuing Care Facilities"

1997 – SB 332/HB 783 – “Health Maintenance Organizations – Referrals to Continuing Care Facilities” requires the primary care  provider (PCP) of a Medicare HMO enrollee who is a resident of a continuing care facility to refer the enrollee to the skilled nursing unit at the resident’s continuing care facility after receiving health care services at an acute care facility if: (1) the continuing care facility agrees to become an HMO participating provider; (2) the patient and the PCP do not choose a different course of treatment; (3) the continuing care facility meets State licensing and certification guidelines, including Medicare certification; and (4) the skilled nursing unit is Medicare certified. The continuing care facility is not obligated to accept anyone other than the residents of the continuing care facility for health care services; and the HMO and the continuing care facility are not obligated to advertise the facility’s participation in the HMO’s provider panel.

 

1997 - MaCCRA was an active supporter of HB269/SR176 - Department of Aging

MaCCRA was an active supporter of HB269/SB176 – “Department of Aging” – removed the Office on Aging from the Executive Department and creates the Department of Aging as a principal department of the State government. MaCCRA lent its support and credibility to a number of bills, and continued to gain visibility among legislators and other interest groups. Our firm participated in the meetings of such groups as the Health Provider Coalition and the Long Term Care Coalition. These provided opportunities to coordinate legislative activities with other organizations for bills affecting MaCCRA members.

1998 - SB159/HB360 Certificate of Need Exemption - Concurrent Direct Admissions

SB 159/ HB 360 – “Certificate of Need Exemption – Concurrent DirectAdmissionsSpecifies that a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) does not lose its exemption from CON for admitting an individual directly to a nursing facility within the CCRC if the admittee’s spouse or relative is admitted at the same time to an independent living unit or assisted living unit within the CCRC.

1999 - SB146.HB1295 Continuing Care Communities Certificate of Need Exemption

SB 146/ (HB 1295) “Continuing Care Communities – Certificate of Need Exemption – Direct Admission”  – Passed – is designed to offer some protection to long-term CCRC residents who will move from individual or assisted living into nursing home beds.

SB 403/ HB 864 “Continuing Care Communities – Certificate of Need Exemption – Comprehensive Care Nursing Beds” – Passed – provides for an exemption from CON requirements if the number of nursing home beds in a CCRC does not exceed: (1) 24% of the number of independent living units (ILU) in a CCC with fewer than 300 ILUs; or (2) 20% of the number of ILUs in a CCC with 300 or more ILUs.

2000 Support for HB472 Continuing Care Agreements Designation of a Beneficiary - Entrance Fee

MaCCRA supported House Bill 472 – ‘Continuing Care Agreements -Designation of a Beneficiary – Entrance Fee’ (Del. Hammen – Passed) which requires a continuing care agreement to be in a form acceptable to the Department of Aging (DOA), and include a provision allowing a subscriber (resident) to designate a beneficiary for receipt of any refundable portion of the facility’s entrance fee upon the subscriber’s death. The designation must be: (1) made in writing; (2) witnessed by two or more competent witnesses; (3) noncontingent; and (4) specified in percentages to account for 100% of the refund due.

2001 - MaCCRA supported Senate Bill 355 ‘Department of Aging - Continuing Care Retirement Communities - Regulation’

MaCCRA supported Senate Bill 355 ‘Department of Aging – Continuing Care Retirement Communities – Regulation’ (Chairman, Finance Committee) (passed) adopts recommendations made by the Department of Aging’s Continuing Care Advisory Committee. It broadens the health related services CCRCs must provide and what it means to make medical and nursing services or other health related services available to subscribers. Health related services must include priority admission to a nursing home or assisted living program, or assistance in daily living activities that do not include meals. Making available either medical and nursing services or other health related services means the provider or affiliate has the services readily accessible for subscribers whether or not the services are specifically offered in the written agreement for shelter.

The bill also enables people to receive refunds from CCRCs more quickly if they move out within the first 90 days. It also requires providers to refund an individual’s entrance fee within 60 days of an agreement being terminated or the individual’s death under certain circumstances. An entrance fee is defined as a sum of money or other consideration, other than a surcharge, paid that assures continuing care for more than one year or for life and is at least three times the weighted average of the monthly cost of periodic fees charged for independent and assisted living units.

The bill requires CCRCs to include at least one resident on its governing board. If the provider owns or operates more than three CCRCs in the State, there must be at least one resident on the governing board for every three facilities.

The Department of Aging (MDoA) may petition for the appointment of a receiver for a CCRC if the department has determined that there is a significant risk of the provider’s financial failure.

In addition, CCRCs will have a more flexible time frame to fund their operating reserves. CCRCs will have up to ten fiscal years after the later of October 1, 1996 or the date of the CCRC s initial certificate of registration to set aside operating reserves for each facility that equal 15% of the net operating expenses for the most recent fiscal year a certified financial statement is available.

MDoA may impose a civil penalty of up to $5,000 per violation for any action or inaction that violates the bill’s provisions or related regulations. Before imposing the penalty, MdoA must give a violation notice to the provider. CCRCs will have the right to appeal the penalty under the Administrative Procedure Act. All money collected from penalties must be deposited into the general fund.

House Bill 321 (Ch. 57) (Del. Malone, et al.) / Senate Bill 180 (Sen. Bromwell) – ‘Continuing Care Communities – Direct Admissions Into Comprehensive Care Nursing Bed – Repeal of Abrogation Provision’ (both passed) repeal the June 30, 2002, termination date for provisions that allow Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs) to have direct admissions to their nursing home beds and still retain their Certificate of Need (CON) exemption. Prior to 2000, CCRCs were excluded from CON regulation because they limited their nursing home bed admissions to subscribers of their own communities and were not perceived as direct competitors with CON-regulated nursing homes. Permitting direct admission to CCRC nursing home beds, as provided by Chapter 248 of 2000, puts CCRCs in direct competition with traditional nursing homes, potentially reducing nursing home admissions. According to a January 1, 2002, report by the Maryland Health Care Commission, there were 86 direct admissions to CCRCs during a one-year period, a number that did not significantly impact admissions to traditional nursing homes.

2002 - no legislation passed
2002 – The major piece of legislation for MaCCRA this year was House Bill 79/Senate Bill 127 (FAILED). The intent of the legislation was to address key areas of concern still left unresolved from last Session and Senate Bill 355. Even though the bills ultimately failed, our testimony raised awareness among the legislators off some of the concerns of CCRC residents. As a result Senator John Astle, sponsor of the Senate Bill, wrote a letter requesting that Secretary Jean Roesser of the Department of Aging provide data on CCRC fee increases over the last 5 years, and to look into ways to develop of a mediation mechanism for CCRC residents. The letters ask that the Department report their findings back to the House and Senate by December 2003.
2003 Passage of Grievance Procedure
2003 Passage of Grievance Procedure (House Bill 1001 (Delegate Goldwater, et al)/ Senate Bill 785 (Senator Klausmeier) “Continuing Care Facilities – Internal Grievance Procedure” PASSED- This bill requires a continuing care facility to establish an internal grievance procedure for addressing complaints. A facility must include in its disclosure statement to the Maryland Department of Aging (MDoA) a description of its internal grievance procedure.

Each agreement executed between a subscriber and a provider must state that there is an internal grievance procedure to investigate subscribers’ grievances.
Specifically the statute states: A PROVIDER SHALL ESTABLISH AN INTERNAL GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE TO ADDRESS A SUBSCRIBER’S GRIEVANCE. AN INTERNAL GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE SHALL PROVIDE FOR:

THE OPPORTUNITY FOR A SUBSCRIBER TO SUBMIT A WRITTEN GRIEVANCE TO THE PROVIDER; AND A RESPONSE FROM THE PROVIDER WITHIN 45 DAYS AFTER RECEIPT OF THE WRITTEN GRIEVANCE AS TO THE INVESTIGATION AND RESOLUTION OF THE SUBSCRIBER’S GRIEVANCE.

The law went into effect October 1, 2004.

2006 Senate Bill 103 "Continuing Care Contracts” passed.
2006 – Senate Bill 103 Sponsored by the Chairman, Finance Committee (By Request- Department of Aging) – “Continuing Care Contracts” [PASSED] This departmental bill makes various changes to the statute authorizing Department of Aging to regulate continuing care contracts. It also expanded the grievance procedure to include the following 2 requirements:
1 a provider must respond in writing within five days after receiving a subscriber’s written grievance, and
2 the subscriber who files a written grievance has the right to a meeting with management within 45 days after the provider receives the written grievance
2008 - Continuing Care Retirement Communities - Subscriber Grievances
2008 – House Bill 1351 – Continuing Care Retirement Communities – Subscriber Grievances [PASSED] The original provisions of the bill included a series of step by step guidelines guaranteeing both management and resident attention to a grievance, an external channel of appeal allowing CCRC residents to take their grievance outside of the facility to the Attorney General’s office if necessary, and a requirement that CCRC providers submit, on a quarterly basis, the number and nature of grievances and any provider action taken as a result of them to the Department of Aging and the Health Education and Advocacy Unit of the Attorney General’s Office.
The bill was amended in the Health and Government Operations Committee, and as it passed the General Assembly it requires: continuing care retirement communities, by December 1, 2008, to submit to the Department of Aging and the Health Education and Advocacy Unit in the Office of the Attorney General:
1 the number of written grievances submitted during calendar 2007;
2 a brief summary of each grievance filed using nonindividually identifiable information; and
3 any action taken by the provider regarding the resolution of each grievance.
The legislative process is an incremental one, and the passage of HB1351 is a success. The data collection House Bill 1351 requires is an important first step towards an equitable and effective grievance procedure.
2009 - "Continuing Care Retirement Communities - Internal Grievance Procedure and Mediation” passed.
2009 House Bill 843 (Del. Mary Ann Love, et al) “Continuing Care Retirement Communities – Internal Grievance Procedure and Mediation” [PASSED]
This bill expands the components that must be included in a continuing care retirement community’s (CCRC) internal grievance procedures. CCRC internal grievance procedures must at least allow a subscriber or group of subscribers collectively to submit a written complaint; require the provider to assign personnel to investigate the grievance; and give a subscriber the right to meet with management within 30, rather than 45, days after submission of a written grievance.
The bill also authorizes subscribers and providers to seek mediation within 30 days after the conclusion of an internal grievance procedure. The mediation must be nonbinding, and the provider and subscriber may not be represented by counsel.
2010 Continuing Care Advisory Committee (CCAC) review of current regulations and statutes concerning continuing care retirement communities
2010 – The Secretary of Aging reconvened the Continuing Care Advisory Committee (CCAC) to conduct a thorough review of current regulations and statutes concerning continuing care retirement communities, and to make recommendations regarding changes that need to be made to the regulations and/or statutes. The CCAC is made up of representatives from the Department of Aging, the legislature, the CCRC management companies, elder law, and consumers. MaCCRA has two representatives in addition to 2 other resident members on the CCAC.
2011 The Continuing Care Advisory Committee (CCAC) completed its more than one year long review of legislation and regulation.
2011 The Continuing Care Advisory Committee (CCAC) completed its more than one year long review of legislation and regulations affecting continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) in Maryland.
CCAC recommendations make progress in protecting the following fundamental rights of CCRC residents:
1 Recognition of residents as principal stakeholders;
2 Access to information;
3 Response to grievances;
4 Transparency of business operations;
5 Reduction of risks to residents; and
6 Department of Aging oversight and authority to act.
Legislation was introduced in two bills to implement the CCAC recommendations:
HB 1286 contained recommendations, approved unanimously by the CCAC members, which would:
1 Increase a statutory operating reserve from 55 to 90 days of expenses and limit the circumstances under which it could be pledged;
2 Require disclosure of the community’s operating budget;
3 Broaden grounds for Department of Aging disapproval of contract terms;
4 Require that responses to grievances be in writing.
HB 1285 contained recommendations, approved in most cases by large majority votes in the CCAC but with some “No” votes, which would:
■ Permit interstate obligated groups that have joint and several liability among members;
■ Lower threshold for Department approval of asset transfers in any 12-month period from 10% to 5% of total assets;
■ Require actuarial studies for all CCRCs, but only every five years for CCRCs offering fee-for-services contracts;
■ Increase from one to two residents on governing boards;
■ Permit residents to nominate, and to ratify selection of, resident board
members;
■ Permit Department to revisit existing contracts;
■ Permit resident to seek help, except from an unrelated attorney, in presenting a grievance;
■ Require disclosure of:
• Summary of non-confidential board actions;
• Existence of a MaCCRA chapter;
• Delayed entrance fee refunds;
• Whether a CCRC is stand-alone or financially tied to one or more other entities;
• Financial statements of entities receiving fund transfers and of parent corporation.
Neither bill passed. The Chairmen of the House Health and Government Operations Committee and the Senate Finance Committee directed that a workgroup of stakeholders convene over the interim to develop mutually agreed upon legislation.
2012 - Bills passed Senate Bill 485 (Senator Kelley, et al) and House Bill 556 (Delegate Hubbard) both passed. The bills establish additional requirements with regard to continuing care agreements, disclosure statements, and grievance procedures; require providers to make specified information available to subscribers; modify requirements for the sale or transfer of a facility; restrict the pledging or encumbering of operating reserve assets; and increase the operating reserve that a provider must set aside for each facility.
2012 – Legislation was introduced issues and recommendations developed by the Continuing Care Advisory Committee (CCAC). Throughout the CCAC process, last Session, and over the summer and fall of 2011 our focus has been to develop and pass legislation that:
1 Provides for increased transparency and disclosure of CCRC finances, operating reserves, transfers of assets and refunds,
2 reduces the risk that any Maryland CCRC will get into serious financial difficulty,
3 strengthens resident rights and protections,
4 ensures that residents and future residents have all the information they need to make informed choices, and
5 gives residents a role in their community more commensurate with their stake in its success.

Senate Bill 485 (Senator Kelley, et al) and House Bill 556 (Delegate Hubbard) both passed. The bills establish additional requirements with regard to continuing care agreements, disclosure statements, and grievance procedures; require providers to make specified information available to subscribers; modify requirements for the sale or transfer of a facility; restrict the pledging or encumbering of operating reserve assets; and increase the operating reserve that a provider must set aside for each facility. Specifically: “Continuing Care Agreements.”

Under current law, a continuing care agreement between a provider and a subscriber must include certain specified information related to consideration paid, services to be provided, payment terms, and procedures for cancellation and transfer. In addition, the agreement must state that the subscriber has received, at least two weeks prior to signing the agreement, a current version of the provider’s written rules.
Under the bill, a provider must also represent in the agreement that the subscriber has also received (at least two weeks prior to signing) the continuing care agreement form and the current disclosure statement with the attachments, exhibits, and addenda. In addition, the bill requires a continuing care agreement to (I) have a table of contents; (2) state that the subscriber acknowledges reviewing all of the terms of the entrance fee refund clauses and provisions in the agreement; (3) include one of three model statements (or a similar statement) regarding the use of fees paid by subscribers of the community; (4) if the provider offers a continuing care agreement that promises a contractual entrance fee refund after occupancy, state whether the portion of the entrance fee to be refunded is held in trust or escrow for the subscriber after occupancy; and (5) if the payment of a contractual entrance fee refund after occupancy is conditioned on the re-occupancy or re-contracting of the subscriber’s unit, state that the provider agrees to make reasonable efforts to satisfy the condition.
Current law specifies that, if a provider executes a separate assisted living or comprehensive care agreement, the provider is not required to submit the assisted living agreement, the comprehensive care agreement, or any requests for modification to MDoA for approval. Under the bill, a provider that uses a separate assisted living or comprehensive care agreement must state in its continuing care agreement that, if the subscriber wishes to transfer to assisted living or comprehensive care, the subscriber will be required to sign a separate agreement (that is not subject to MDoA approval) for those services. The bill specifies that the provider may, however, include a provision stating that assisted living or comprehensive care contracts and services are regulated by the Office of Health Care Quality within the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. The bill also specifies that MDoA is authorized to deny approval of a continuing care agreement that contravenes applicable provisions of law.
Disclosure Statements
Under current law, a continuing care disclosure statement must include certain specified information related to the facility, the organizational structure of the provider, and financial matters. The bill requires a continuing care disclosure statement to contain additional information, including (I) a table of contents; (2) if the provider has a governing body, a description of the process used by the provider to select a subscriber member of the governing body and satisfy other specified requirements; (3) if the provider offers a contractual entrance fee refund after occupancy, a statement whether the portion of the entrance fee to be refunded is held in trust or escrow for the subscriber and, if applicable, a description of where and how the funds are held; and (4) if an extensive agreement is offered, a specific statement regarding coordination of benefits.
The bill also requires a facility’s marketing materials, including disclosure statements, to include a specified disclaimer if the materials state that part or all of an entrance fee may be refundable.
Other Provisions
The bill specifies that a provider must respond in writing to a written grievance and clarifies that a grievance can be filed by a group of subscribers. The bill also requires the provider to make available to subscribers (1) the nonconfidential portions of the governing body’s meeting minutes (or a summary of those portions) within one month of approval of the minutes; and (2) the facility’s most recent finalized budget.
The bill modifies requirements (including whether MDoA approval is required) for the sale or transfer of a facility. Beginning January 1, 2014, the bill restricts the pledging or encumbering of operating reserve assets. Beginning January 1, 2023, the bill also increases the operating reserve that a provider must set aside for each facility to 25% (from 15%) of the facility’s net operating expenses for the most recent fiscal year and for which a certified financial statement is available.” – Department of Legislative Services

2013 - No legislation requested, and none enacted.
2013 No legislation requested, and none enacted. MaCCRA held a day in Annapolis to let our legislators know what CCRCs are about and what our agenda will be in 2014 for actuarial study of Type C CCRCs.
2014 Actuarial Studies for Type C CCRCs every five years" was not passed.
2014 Legislation – “Actuarial Studies for Type C CCRCs every five years” was not passed. There was excellent MaCCRA representation and testimonials. Plan to return 2015 requesting same legislation as there will be a new HGO committee and subcommittee because of retirement and elections.
2015 Legislation for Actuarial Studies for Type C CCRCs every five years was not passed.
2015 – Legislation for Actuarial Studies for Type C CCRCs every five years was not passed. Vote in Senate 6-5 so bill was not taken forward to House.
2016 Legislation for Actuarial Studies for Type C CCRCs every five years was not passed.
2016 – Legislation for Actuarial Studies for Type C CCRCs every five years was not passed.
2017 Broadmead did get a traffic light at its entrance. Charlestown became a MaCCRA chapter again. MaCCRA started a Google Group to communicate between meetings.
2017 – The only legislation brought forth was HB411 and SB418. Neither bill got out of committee and was not made into law. This was legislation for CCRCs who front on a state road. However, Broadmead did qualify for a traffic light at its one and only entrance which was granted by SHA. Charlestown became a MaCCRA chapter again. MaCCRA started a Google Group to communicate between meetings.
2018 MaCCRA celebrated 25 years as an association. NaCCRA published a Consumer’s Guide.
2018 MaCCRA supported and testified on HB375 which would require Actuarial Studies for Type C communities. The provider associations opposed the bill, and the committee vote was unfavorable. HB 344 provided for a refund of the entrance fee within 30 days. A former resident got a delegate to put in the bill to have a refund of 30 days. The resident moved out after 17 months had to wait for 4 months for his refund. He thought that was too long. The bill was opposed by the provider associations. MaCCRA offered an amendment for one year. MaCCRA celebrated 25 years as an association. NaCCRA published a Consumer’s Guide.
2019 - MaCCRA proposed legislation to strengthen the Grievance Procedure for residents. HB 588 did pass to allow a resident to have an attorney present during a formal grievance procedure already required in law. MaCCRA supported and testified on HB411 that would require the Board of Elections to provide a polling precinct at a CCRC if requested by the CCRC. It did not pass. Another bill requiring handicapped parking regulation did not pass.
2019 – MaCCRA proposed legislation to strengthen the Grievance Procedure for residents. HB 588 did pass to allow a resident to have an attorney present during a formal grievance procedure already required in law. MaCCRA supported and testified on HB411 that would require the Board of Elections to provide a polling precinct at a CCRC if requested by the CCRC. It did not pass. Another bill requiring handicapped parking regulation did not pass.
2020 - Before the pandemic MaCCRA held a Day in Annapolis in February. During the COVID-19 epidemic MaCCRA used Zoom meetings. MaCCRA converted to Groups.io for communication. MaCCRA provided COVID-19 numbers for the CCRCs and vaccine information as it became available. The Bylaws were updated, and new Policies and Procedures were adopted.
2020 MaCCRA held a Day in Annapolis in February. The COVID-19 pandemic changed the life of the country dramatically. MaCCRA supported SB 40 Sales and Use Tax for Diapers to exempt adult diapers from sales tax. MaCCRA conducted meetings through video conferencing using the Zoom platform. Fairhaven organized and became a chapter. MaCCRA focused on the COVID-19 impact, financial soundness and security, and transparency and engagement. MaCCRA wrote letters to the Governor and Department of Health Secretary to support state resources for COVID-19 testing and personal protective equipment. The first MaCCRA webinar was conducted with Lori Webb, Division Chief, Continuing Care, Department of Aging, CCRC Regulations, What You Need to Know as Residents. MaCCRA provided COVID-19 numbers for the CCRCs and vaccine information as it became available. The Bylaws were updated, and new Policies and Procedures were adopted.

MaCCRA continued to function using Zoom meetings. MaCCRA converted to Groups.io, a more robust email platform for communication. MaCCRA supported legislation for telehealth, visitation in long-term care, outreach for cognitive impairment, and establishing standards for Alzheimer’s Special Care Units, and relevant bills related to COVID-19. Surveys were conducted on the use of pendants, vaccine trackers, and monthly fee increases. The Groups.io list serve increased activity. Office Hours started for Presidents to meet for informal discussions. The Assisted Living Task Force conducted a line-by-line review of the draft assisted living regulations over a four-month period, submitted written testimony, and testified as the four video hearings. MaCCRA supported North Oaks as the community faced a sale to another for-profit owner. Riderwood started recruiting members to become a chapter again.

2021 - MaCCRA tracked legislation and testified on long-term care premium tax credit and expanding the Board of NH Examiners to include Assisted Living Managers.
2021 MaCCRA tracks legislation and testified on long-term care premium tax credit and expanding the Board of NH Examiners to include Assisted Living Managers. Office Hours for the Presidents were held in February. The new NaCCRA Financial Soundness Handbook was mailed to each chapter. MaCCRA Vision Task Force is meeting.