The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has issued All Facilities Letter (AFL) 20-83.1, which clarifies previously issued guidance on the interdisciplinary team (IDT) medical decision-making process for skilled-nursing facility residents who are unable to provide informed consent and do not have a representative to make decisions on their behalf.
Specifically, the updated AFL clarifies an IDT’s authority to administer antipsychotic medications and create or change certain orders, and that the patient representative who must serve on the IDT must be unaffiliated with the facility.
As previously reported in CHA News, CHA continues to work with CDPH and other key stakeholders to clarify implementation and related oversight. The deadline for compliance with the IDT patient representative participation is July 27.