Author: CANHR STAFF

AFL 20-35.7 From the California Department of Public Health March 16, 2022 TO: All Facilities SUBJECT: Suspension of Professional Certification Requirements for Certified Nurse Assistants (CNAs)(This AFL supersedes AFL 20-35.6) ​AUTHORITY:      Proclamation of a State of Emergency (PDF)                                   Executive Orders N-39-20 (PDF), N-08-21 (PDF), N-12-21 (PDF), N-21-21 (PDF), and N-04-22 (PDF) All Facilities Letter (AFL) Summary This AFL notifies all facilities of a temporary waiver of specified statutory and regulatory requirements for CNAs due to the state of emergency related to the COVID-19 outbreak.This AFL revision informs all facilities and applicants that the temporary waiver of specified regulatory requirements for initial certification, renewal, and expired certification have been extended until June 30, 2022, in accordance with Executive Order N-04-22 (PDF), issued February 25, 2022 .This AFL informs applicants and certificate holders how to obtain/maintain an active/employable status after the expiration of the listed waivers.

AFL 20-34.6 From the California Department of Public Health March 16, 2022 TO: Adult Day Health Care Centers (ADHCs) SUBJECT: Suspension of Regulatory Enforcement of Specified ADHC Requirements(This AFL supersedes AFL 20-34.5) ​AUTHORITY:     Executive Order N-35-20 (PDF), N-08-21 (PDF), N-17-21 (PDF), N-21-21 (PDF), and N-04-22 (PDF) All Facilities Letter (AFL) Summary This AFL notifies ADHCs of a temporary waiver of specified regulatory requirements due to the state of emergency related to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak.In accordance with Executive Order N-04-22 (PDF), issued February 25, 2022, this AFL extends the temporary waiver of specified regulatory requirements until June 30, 2022.  Pursuant to the Governor’s Executive Orders N-35-20 (PDF), N-17-21 (PDF), and N-21-21 (PDF) related to COVID-19, the Director of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) may waive any of the licensing and staffing requirements of Chapter 3.3 of Division 2 of the Health and Safety Code (HSC) and accompanying regulations with respect to any ADHC identified in HSC section 1575.

AFL 20-30.8 From the California Department of Public Health March 16, 2022 TO: Primary Care Clinics (PCCs)Mobile Health Care Units (MHCUs) SUBJECT: Suspension of Regulatory Enforcement of Specified PCC and MHCU Requirements(This AFL supersedes AFL 20-30.7) AUTHORITY:    Executive Orders N-35-20 (PDF), N-08-21 (PDF), N-17-21 (PDF), N-21-21 (PDF), and N-04-22 (PDF) All Facilities Letter (AFL) Summary This AFL notifies PCCs and MHCUs of a temporary waiver of specified regulatory requirements due to the state of emergency related to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak.In accordance with Executive Order N-04-22 (PDF), issued February 25, 2022, this AFL extends the temporary waiver for any clinics conducting COVID-19 vaccinations, treatment, and/or testing, until June 30, 2022.

AFL 21-26.12 From the California Department of Public Health March 16, 2022 TO: General Acute Care Hospitals SUBJECT: Suspension of Regulatory Enforcement of Hospital Requirements(This AFL supersedes AFL 20-26.11) AUTHORITY:     Proclamation of Emergency, Executive Orders: N-39-20 (PDF), N-08-21 (PDF), N-12-21 (PDF), N-21-21 (PDF), and N-04-22 (PDF) All Facilities Letter (AFL) Summary This AFL notifies hospitals of a temporary waiver of specified regulatory requirements due to the state of emergency related to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak.In accordance with the Executive Order N-04-22 (PDF), issued February 25, 2022, this AFL extends the temporary waiver related to space requirements until June 30, 2022.

AFL 21-08.8 From the California Department of Public Health March 7, 2022 TO: General Acute Care Hospitals (GACHs)Acute Psychiatric Hospitals (APHs)Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs) SUBJECT: Guidance on Quarantine and Isolation for Health Care Personnel (HCP) Exposed to SARS-CoV-2 and Return to Work for HCP with COVID-19(This AFL supersedes AFL 21-08.7) ​AUTHORITY:     Proclamation of Emergency (PDF) All Facilities Letter (AFL) Summary The purpose of this AFL is to provide hospitals and SNF with updated guidance on:Exposure risk assessment and work restriction for asymptomatic HCP with SARS-CoV-2 exposures (quarantine)Work restrictions for HCP diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection (isolation)This revision incorporates updated Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance on Interim Guidance for Managing Healthcare Personnel with SARS-CoV-2 Infection or Exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and Strategies to Mitigate Healthcare Personnel Staffing Shortages.Pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code section 14126.033 a SNF’s receipt of the annual increase in the weighted average Medi-Cal reimbursement rate may be conditioned on the facility’s good faith compliance with CDPH AFLs related to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, as a result the recommendations included in this AFL are requirements for SNFs.This AFL update supersedes and removes the temporarily adjusted return-to-work criteria in place from January 8, 2022 – February 1, 2022, which was not renewed. Hospitals should and SNFs must now resume using the table, below, to guide work restrictions for HCP with SARS-CoV-2 infection and for asymptomatic HCP with exposures based upon HCP vaccination status and facility staffing level.

AFL 22-09 From the California Department of Public Health February 24, 2022 TO: All Facilities SUBJECT: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Vaccine and Booster Recommendations for Clinically Eligible Individuals ​All Facilities Letter (AFL) Summary The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) recommends facilities offer COVID-19 vaccinations and booster doses to clinically eligible individuals.  ​The circulation of more transmissible recent variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus has led to surges in COVID-19 cases.

AFL 21-34.3 From the California Department of Public Health February 22, 2022 TO: All Facilities SUBJECT: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Vaccine Requirement for Healthcare Personnel (HCP)(This AFL supersedes AFL 21-34.2) ​AUTHORITY:     State Public Health Order – Health Care Worker Vaccine Requirement                           State Public Health Order – Adult Care Facilities and Direct Care Worker Vaccine Requirement All Facilities Letter (AFL) Summary This AFL notifies all facilities of the August 5, 2021 Public Health Order related to mandatory vaccination for healthcare workers in identified healthcare settings.

AFL 21-28.3 From the California Department of Public Health February 22, 2022 TO: Skilled Nursing FacilitiesSUBJECT: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Testing, Vaccination Verification and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for Health Care Personnel (HCP) at Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF)(This AFL supersedes AFL 21-28.2) All Facilities Letter (AFL) Summary This AFL requires SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic screening testing for HCP in SNFs.