The operators of North Carolina long-term care facilities may have some work to do preparing emergency visitation policies.

All North Carolina nursing homes, combination homes, adult care homes and family care homes (LTC Facilities) must now include with admission material an emergency visitation policy (EVP) that will be in effect when their normal visitation policy is suspended or limited during a declared disaster or emergency. LTC Facilities must also explain during the admission process how the EVP will be implemented and obtain names of preapproved visitors who will be permitted to visit during the emergency or disaster.

Pursuant to Session Law 2021-145, known as “Clifford’s Law,” LTC Facilities are required to develop specific visitation policies to have in place in the event regular visitation policies must be suspended or limited. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) has identified specific protocols for facilities to implement pursuant to Clifford’s Law. These protocols were published on June 27, 2022 and went into effect immediately.

For details on important next steps, read our client alert: North Carolina’s New Emergency Visitation Rules for Long-Term Care – What You Need to Do Now.