What’s happening: The Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) has issued updated information on requirements for alternate sources of power in skilled-nursing facilities (SNFs).
What else to know: The revised Policy Intent Notice provides guidance for the implementation of alternate sources of power to maintain safe temperatures, availability of lifesaving equipment, and oxygen-generating devices for SNF buildings as required by state law.
Passed in 2022, Assembly Bill (AB) 2511 requires that SNFs have an alternative source of power to protect resident health and safety for no fewer than 96 hours for power outages resulting from a public safety power shutoff, an emergency, a natural disaster, or other cause. An alternate source of power is defined as a source of electricity that is not received through an electric utility but is generated or stored onsite, which may include (but is not limited to) emergency generators using fuel, large capacity batteries, and renewable electrical generation facilities. These requirements are enforceable by the California Department of Public Health beginning on Jan. 1, 2026.
Contact Pat Blaisdell, vice president, policy, at pblaisdell@calhospital.org with any questions.
