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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, Second Regular Session
joint training; surveyors; providers
Purpose
Requires the Department of Health Services (DHS) to hold an annual joint training session between outlined long term care providers and DHS compliance personnel to discuss changes in the survey process of long-term care facilities and how compliance with survey requirements will be determined.
Background
DHS is
established to promote and protect the health of residents and provide and
coordinate public health services and programs for Arizona. Responsibilities of
DHS include but are not limited to: 1) promoting the development, maintenance,
efficiency and effectiveness of local health departments or districts; 2)
conducting a statewide health education program;
3) conducting continual evaluations of state, local and district public health
programs; and
4) licensing and regulating health care institutions. DHS must also perform all
necessary functions relating to licensing, certification or monitoring of
long-term care facilities to implement federally approved standards for institutions,
facilities, agencies or persons providing services under the Arizona Long Term
Care System. (A.R.S. §§ 36-132
and 36-409).
Long term care facilities provide a variety of services, including medical and personal care, to individuals who are unable to live independently. This may include: 1) an assisted living facility, which is a residential care institution, including an adult foster care home, that provides or contracts to provide supervisory care services, personal care services or directed care services on a continuous basis; 2) an assisted living home, which is an assisted living facility that provides resident rooms to 10 or fewer residents; and 3) a nursing care institution, which is a healthcare institution that provides inpatient or resident beds and nursing services to persons who need continuous nursing services but do not require hospital care or direct daily care from a physician (A.R.S. § 36-401).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Requires DHS to establish an annual joint training session between skilled nursing providers and assisted living providers, as well as supervisors, compliance officers and investigators who survey long-term care facilities.
2. Specifies the purpose of the joint training sessions is to report changes to the survey process and to educate compliance officers and skilled nursing and assisted living providers on how compliance with the changes will be determined.
3. Allows the joint training sessions to be held in person or remotely.
4. Allows DHS to receive and spend gifts, grants or donations to pay for the joint training sessions.
5. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
House Action
HHS 1/22/24 DP 10-0-0-0
3rd Read 2/1/24 55-0-1-0-4
Prepared by Senate Research
February 22, 2024
MM/KS/slp