CHA News

HCAI Releases Policy Intent, Code Application Notices

What’s happening: The Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) has released policy intent notices (PIN) on steel quality and quality control, and code application notices (CAN) for nurse stations and self-contained medication dispensing units (MDUs). 

What else to know: Issued by HCAI’s Office of Statewide Hospital Planning and Development, these new policies and code changes aim to streamline, outline, and clarify various aspects of hospital operations.  

The policy intent notices and code application notices include the following: 

  • PIN 77, Steel Quality Assurance (QA) and Quality Control (QC), streamlines the transition from legacy amendments-based steel special inspection and nondestructive testing requirements to those based on model code and steel material standards. This PIN focuses on the QA special inspections and nondestructive tests performed by HCAI-approved organizations employed by the hospital owner. (PIN 77 revisions are not yet posted, but will soon be published on the HCAI Codes and Regulations website.)  
  • CAN 2-407.2.2, Nurse Stations, outlines the fire and life safety requirements for the charting areas of providers, supervisory staff, doctors and nurses, administrative areas, communications stations, and related clerical areas where such areas are open to the corridor. The CAN updates the 2022 edition of Title 24 – Building Standards Code by removing the requirements of mobile or fixed MDUs outside a nurse station. 
  • CAN 2-1224.4.4.4.2, Self-Contained MDU, clarifies the appropriate code requirements that apply to the location, quantity, and size of self-contained MDUs. 

Contact Trina Gonzalez, vice president, policy, with any questions at tgonzalez@calhospital.org