Superseded Archive Items139 posts

AFL 21-08.7 From the California Department of Public Health 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 21-08.6) 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.From January 8, 2022 until February 1, 2022, HCP who test positive for SARS-CoV-2 and are asymptomatic, may return to work immediately without isolation and without testing, and HCPs who have been exposed and are asymptomatic may return to work immediately without quarantine and without testing.

AFL 20-57.3 From the California Department of Public Health TO: All Facilities SUBJECT: Suspension of Professional Certification Requirements for Home Health Aide Training Programs (HHA Training Programs)(This AFL supersedes AFL 20-57.2) AUTHORITY:      Proclamation of a State of Emergency (PDF)                                  Executive Orders N-39-20 (PDF), N-08-21 (PDF), N-12-21 (PDF), and N-21-21 (PDF) All Facilities Letter (AFL) Summary This AFL notifies all HHA Training Programs of a temporary waiver of specified statutory and regulatory requirements for HHA Training Programs due to the state of emergency related to the COVID-19 outbreak.This revision notifies all facilities that the temporary waiver of specified statutory and regulatory requirements is extended until March 31, 2022 in compliance with Executive Order N-21-21 (PDF).  Background Pursuant to the Governor’s Executive Order N-39-20 (PDF) related to the COVID-19 state of emergency, the Director of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) may waive any of the professional certification requirements and amend scopes of practice of Chapter 8 of Division 2 of the Health and Safety Code (HSC) and accompanying regulations with respect to home health aides.

AFL 20-49.4 From the California Department of Public Health TO: All Facilities SUBJECT: Suspension of Professional Certification Requirements for Home Health Aides (HHAs)(This AFL supersedes AFL 20-49.3) AUTHORITY:      Proclamation of a State of Emergency (PDF),                                  Executive Orders N-39-20 (PDF), N-08-21 (PDF), N-12-21 (PDF), and N-21-21 (PDF) All Facilities Letter (AFL) Summary This AFL notifies all facilities of a temporary waiver of specified statutory and regulatory requirements for HHAs due to the state of emergency related to the COVID-19 outbreak.This AFL notifies all facilities that the temporary waiver of specified statutory and regulatory requirements is extended until March 31, 2022, in compliance with Executive Order N-21-21 (PDF).  Background Pursuant to the Governor’s Executive Order N-39-20 (PDF) related to the COVID-19 state of emergency, the Director of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) may waive any of the professional certification requirements and amend scopes of practice of Chapter 8 of Division 2 of the Health and Safety Code (HSC) and accompanying regulations with respect to HHAs.

AFL 20-35.6 From the California Department of Public Health  TO: All Facilities SUBJECT: Suspension of Professional Certification Requirements for Certified Nurse Assistants (CNAs)(This AFL supersedes AFL 20-35.5) ​AUTHORITY:      Proclamation of a State of Emergency (PDF)                                   Executive Orders N-39-20 (PDF), N-08-21 (PDF), N-12-21 (PDF), and N-21-21 (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 March 31, 2022, in compliance with Executive Order N-21-21 (PDF).The waivers for tuberculosis testing, reciprocity, and report of address change will expire effective December 31, 2021.This AFL informs applicants and certificate holders how to obtain/maintain an active/employable status after the expiration of the listed waivers.

AFL 20-40.3 From the California Department of Public Health TO: All FacilitiesNurse Assistant Training Programs SUBJECT: Suspension of Specified Regulatory Requirements for Nurse Assistant Training Programs (NATPs)(This AFL supersedes AFL 20-40.2) AUTHORITY: Proclamation of a State of Emergency (PDF)                             Executive Orders N-39-20 (PDF), N-08-21 (PDF), N-12-21 (PDF), and N-21-21 (PDF) All Facilities Letter (AFL) Summary This AFL notifies all facilities of a temporary waiver of specified statutory and regulatory requirements for NATPs and nursing facilities due to the state of emergency related to the COVID-19 outbreak.This revision notifies all facilities the temporary waiver of specified regulatory requirements contained in this AFL are extended until March 31, 2022 in compliance with Executive Order N-21-21 (PDF).

AFL 21-08.6 From the California Department of Public Health TO: General Acute Care Hospitals (GACHs)Acute Psychiatric Hospitals (APHs)Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs) SUBJECT: Guidance on Quarantine for Health Care Personnel (HCP) Exposed to SARS-CoV-2 and Return to Work for HCP with COVID-19(This AFL supersedes AFL 21-08.5) 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.  With the increasing number of COVID-19 cases from the Omicron variant and in preparation for an anticipated surge in patients, CDC updated their guidance for HCP isolation and quarantine to reflect what is currently known about infection and exposure in the context of vaccination and booster doses.