Admission Procedures related to Communicable Diseases in Assisted Living Facilities

Today, the Agency for Health Care Administration published a final rule changing admission procedures related to communicable diseases in Assisted Living Facilities.  As a member of FHCA’s Assisted Living Committee, I had an opportunity to work with stakeholders to provide input to the Agency after the original version was proposed in May. The final version, noticed today (8/20), allows persons with signs or symptoms of a communicable disease to be admitted to an ALF if certain conditions apply.

The modified regulation occurs at s. 59A-36.006 (1), FAC, and reads:

“…In addition, an individual that exhibits signs or symptoms of or has been diagnosed with a respiratory illness that can be spread through droplet transmission, may be admitted, at the administrator’s discretion, if appropriate droplet precautions are implemented by facility staff.  Appropriate droplet precautions include recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, recommendations from the local county health department, and the facility’s infection prevention and control policies and procedures at the time of the individual’s admission. The individual must otherwise be eligible for admission according to this rule.”

Key elements to notice:

• The admission of such an individual is not mandatory and may occur at the Administrator’s discretion
• The expanded provision is specific to respiratory illnesses that can be spread though droplet transmission
• Droplet precautions include those recommended by the CDC, the County Health Department, and the ALF’s own policies at the time of the individual’s admission

Recall that ALFs are required to maintain infection control policies and to train staff on their implementation. If an ALF modifies admissions that reflect the more permissible provisions, it will be necessary to first think through integrating droplet precaution recommendations in revised policies and associated staff training.

Rule Chapter 59A-36, Assisted Living Facility (Agency for Health Care Administration)

Infection Control (Centers for Disease Control)

Infection Control Training (Florida Department of Health)

Learn more about LSLE’s ALF Administrator Core Training eLearning Program.