The Arizona Department of Health Services released 9.A.A.C. 10 Supplement 20-1 on March 31, 2020.
The Department issued Supplement 20-1 on March 31, 2020. Most of the changes are in Article 1, which applies to all licensed health care institutions in Arizona; however, there are many more changes, updates, deletions and clarifications in the rules. Is your health care facility’s policies and procedures up-to-date?
Supplement 20-1 Brief:
- New definitions in R9-10-101
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New rule – R9-10-104.01, Codes and Standards
Facilities who have plans on making modifications to their existing physical plant, as well as newly constructed facilities should review this rule before undertaking such a project.
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Emergency rule – R9-10-121, Disease Prevention and Control
The impetus for this rule is COVID-19. While this rule applies specifically to Nursing Care Institutions (Article 4), Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (Article 5) and Assisted Living Institutions (Article 8), other facilities can benefit from implementing policies and procedures for this rule to prevent the spread of communicable disease.
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Perpetual Licensing
With the change in licensing from annual to perpetual, the Department has updated the renewal rules to reflect perpetual licensing. Whilst a facility may have a perpetual license, it still has to pay license fees each year. Rules R9-10-106 and 107 .
- There are many more changes in Supplement 20-1. For further information contact Ken Chance & Associates, Inc. at 928-288-2004.
Special COVID-19 Executive Orders, ADHS Emergency Rules, Guidance and other COVID-19 recommendations
The Department has done an excellent job of posting the Governor’s Executive Orders regarding COVID-19 for health care facilities. Administrators should check the site weekly to stay current with the Department’s information as much of it requires the administrator to write policies and procedures to comply with the orders, rules and guidance.
For instance, certain health care facilities need to write policies and procedures that address:
- New admissions and re-admitting a former patient.
- Screening employees and guests for COVID-19.
Ken Chance & Associates, Inc. have policies and procedures for:
- A.A.C. 9, 10 Supplement 20-1
- Outpatient Treatment Centers (Article 10),
- Residential Behavioral Health Facilities (Article 7),
- Behavioral Health Inpatient Facilities (Article 3)
- R9-10-121 – Disease Prevention and Control
- R9-10-104.01 – Codes and Standards
- Special COVID-19 Executive Orders, Department Emergency Rules, Guidance and other (CDC) agency recommendations for health care facilities in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ken Chance & Associates, Inc. provides policies and procedures and compliance consulting services for Arizona Health Care Facilities. We monitor the Department’s website and regularly communicate with Department surveyors to ensure that our policies and procedures meet the intention of the Department’s Rules. We brand each policies and procedures manual with our client’s logo and other branding material so that the manual reflects their company’s image with their staff as well as the general public.
About the Author: Ken Chance, D. Div. is the former owner of three behavioral health agencies and a sober living home. He now offers his expertise in compliance, company strategy, clinical support and operations to health care facilities in Arizona. Dr. Ken may be reached at 1.928.288.2004, or email at ken@kennethchance.com, or visit www.kennethchance.com for more information.