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The suspension of several requirements and regulations affecting California hospitals and health care workers will be lifted when the COVID-19 state of emergency ends on Feb. 28.
The California Department of Public Health recently issued an All Facilities Letter (AFL) that lists a series of AFLs that will be rescinded. They include:
- AFL 20-26.13: Suspension of Regulatory Enforcement of Hospital Requirements. The statutory and regulatory provisions related to the configuration and use of physical space and classification of beds in a hospital were suspended.
- AFL 20-30.9: Suspension of Regulatory Enforcement of Specified Primary Care Clinic and Mobile Health Care Unit Requirements. These specified clinics had licensing requirements and regulatory enforcement suspended in order to conduct COVID-19 treatment, testing and/or vaccinations.
- AFL 20-35.8: Suspension of Professional Certification Requirements for Certified Nurse Assistants. The initial certification, renewal, and expired certification requirements for certified nurse assistants were extended until the state of emergency’s end.
- AFL 20-40.5: Suspension of Specified Regulatory Requirements for Nurse Assistant Training Programs (NATPs). This suspension affected NATPs and nursing facilities that provide instruction and training to nurse assistants seeking certification as certified nurse assistants.
- AFL 20-49.6: Suspension of Professional Certification Requirements for Home Health Aides. This affected various regulatory enforcement requirements.
- AFL 20-57.5: Suspension of Professional Certification Requirements for Home Health Aide Training Programs. Professional certification requirements, amended scopes of practice, and accompanying regulations with respect to home health aides were suspended.
- AFL 21-36.3: Suspension of Regulatory Enforcement of Specified Skilled-Nursing Facility Requirements. The enforcement of space conversion requirements was suspended.
Facilities must be in compliance with the statutory and regulatory requirements by March 1.