File #: Int 1247-2016    Version: * Name: Providing medically appropriate shelter to medically frail homeless individuals.
Type: Introduction Status: Filed (End of Session)
Committee: Committee on General Welfare
On agenda: 8/16/2016
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to providing medically appropriate shelter to medically frail homeless individuals
Sponsors: Corey D. Johnson, Stephen T. Levin, Andrew Cohen, The Public Advocate (Ms. James), Donovan J. Richards, Annabel Palma, Vincent J. Gentile, Margaret S. Chin
Council Member Sponsors: 8
Summary: This bill would require the Department of Homeless Services (DHS) to provide any medically frail homeless single adult with medically appropriate shelter. Medically appropriate shelters would allow individuals to have access to their beds at all times, have on-site medical support staff and provide for 24-hour on call medical staff when such support staff are not on-site, allow residents to easily access their medications, and be fully accessible for individuals who have mobility impairments or other disabilities.
Attachments: 1. Summary of Int. No. 1247, 2. August 16, 2016 - Stated Meeting Agenda with Links to Files

Int. No. 1247

 

By Council Members Johnson, Levin, Cohen, the Public Advocate (Ms. James), Richards, Palma, Gentile and Chin

 

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to providing medically appropriate shelter to medically frail homeless individuals

 

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

 

Section 1. Chapter 3 of title 21 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new section 21-317 to read as follows:

§ 21-317 Medically appropriate shelters. a. Definitions. For the purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:

Adult.  The term “adult” means any individual who is 18 years of age or older.

Care coordination services. The term “care coordination services” shall mean activities including but not limited to helping individuals navigate health systems and connecting to medical care, coordinating or providing transportation to and from medical appointments, facilitating follow-up for medical appointments, and referrals to social services, substance use, and/or mental health providers.

Medically appropriate shelter. The term “medically appropriate shelter” means shelter for medically frail single adults.

Medically frail. The term “medically frail” means individuals with serious and/or complex medical conditions or physical disabilities that significantly impair their ability to perform one or more activities of daily living, including eating, dressing, bathing, walking, transferring, and hygiene.

Shelter. The term “shelter” means temporary emergency housing provided to homeless individuals by the department or a provider under contract or similar agreement with the department.

Single adults. The term "single adult" means individuals without an accompanying adult or child.

Wellness check. The term “wellness check” means a staff assessment of individuals with regard to their medical condition.

b. Medically frail single adults residing in shelter or applying for shelter shall be placed in or transferred to a shelter that is medically appropriate. Individuals applying for shelter shall be assessed by the department to determine whether they qualify as a medically frail individual. Such assessment shall be conducted in accordance with rules promulgated by the commissioner. Medically frail single adults approved for medically appropriate shelter shall be transported to the shelter in a manner to accommodate their medical needs. Challenges to determinations of medical frailty shall be heard at the department of social services administrative fair hearings in accordance with rules promulgated by the commissioner.

c. Medically appropriate shelters shall allow residents to have access to accessible beds at all times, have on-site medical support staff and provide for 24-hour on call medical staff when such support staff are not on-site, allow residents to easily access their medications, provide residents with care coordination services and medication management services, provide residents with three medically appropriate meals each day, and be fully accessible for individuals who have mobility impairments or other disabilities.  Where medically recommended, residents shall be provided with a single room. Each resident of a medically appropriate shelter shall be provided with an individualized care plan specifying treatment upon entry into such shelters. Residents of medically appropriate shelters shall receive at a minimum one wellness check every 24 hours by staff. Residents of medically appropriate shelters shall be assisted with developing an independent living plan to achieve permanent housing.

d. Medically appropriate shelters shall upon admission to such shelter, provide written policies and procedures regarding discharges to residents. Upon discharge, a summary including medications, descriptions of conditions, instructions for accessing community-based resources, a list of follow-up appointments, contact information and special medical instructions shall be provided to each resident of a medically appropriate shelter.

§ 2. This local law takes effect 120 days after it becomes law.

 

AV

LS #4853

8/3/16