DAR File No. 39966

This rule was published in the December 15, 2015, issue (Vol. 2015, No. 24) of the Utah State Bulletin.


Health, Family Health and Preparedness, Licensing

Rule R432-270

Assisted Living Facilities

Notice of Proposed Rule

(Amendment)

DAR File No.: 39966
Filed: 12/01/2015 12:13:23 PM

RULE ANALYSIS

Purpose of the rule or reason for the change:

The purpose of this rule amendment is to update areas that due to age of the rule no longer apply to assisted living facilities. Also amending rules that need clarification so they can be easily understood and consistently applied by providers and the Department of Health. The Health Facility Committee reviewed and approved these rule amendments on 11/18/2015.

Summary of the rule or change:

The changes in Section R432-270-10 are to increase the level of assistance allowed for admittance in both Assisted Living type I and Assisted Living type II provider. The change in Section R432-270-12 is to add the requirement that a resident assessment must accurately reflect the resident's status at the time of assessment. The change to Section R432-270-19 defines the requirements for the resident to administer their own insulin injections in conjunction with the facility medication delegated staff to be able to administer the resident's oral medications. The change to Section R432-270-21 include the requirement for the facility to complete and keep on file incident and injury reports. The changes to Section R432-270-24 include removing the specific facility requirement on the number of linens and having an ironing board and iron for the residents to use.

State statutory or constitutional authorization for this rule:

  • Title 26, Chapter 21

Anticipated cost or savings to:

the state budget:

There is no impact to the state budget because there will be no change in current practice.

local governments:

There is no impact to local governments because there will be no change in current practice.

small businesses:

There is no impact to small businesses because there will be no change in current practice.

persons other than small businesses, businesses, or local governmental entities:

There is no impact to businesses, individuals, local governments, and persons that are not small businesses because there will be no change in current practice.

Compliance costs for affected persons:

There is no impact to single persons because there will be no change in current practice.

Comments by the department head on the fiscal impact the rule may have on businesses:

The proposed amendment is consistent with current practices of businesses governed by this rule and therefore there is no fiscal impact to business.

Joseph Miner, MD, Executive Director

The full text of this rule may be inspected, during regular business hours, at the Division of Administrative Rules, or at:

Health
Family Health and Preparedness, Licensing
3760 S HIGHLAND DR
SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84106

Direct questions regarding this rule to:

  • Joel Hoffman at the above address, by phone at 801-273-2804, by FAX at 801-274-0658, or by Internet E-mail at jhoffman@utah.gov
  • Carmen Richins at the above address, by phone at 801-273-2802, by FAX at 801-274-0658, or by Internet E-mail at carmenrichins@utah.gov

Interested persons may present their views on this rule by submitting written comments to the address above no later than 5:00 p.m. on:

01/14/2016

This rule may become effective on:

01/21/2016

Authorized by:

Joseph Miner, Executive Director

RULE TEXT

R432. Health, Family Health and Preparedness, Licensing.

R432-270. Assisted Living Facilities.

R432-270-10. Admissions.

(1) The facility shall have written admission, retention, and transfer policies that are available to the public upon request.

(2) Before accepting a resident, the facility must obtain sufficient information about the person's ability to function in the facility through the following:

(a) an interview with the resident and the resident's responsible person; and

(b) the completion of the resident assessment.

(3) If the Department determines during inspection or interview that the facility knowingly and willfully admits or retains residents who do not meet license criteria, then the Department may, for a time period specified, require that resident assessments be conducted by an individual who is independent from the facility.

(4) A Type I facility:

(a) shall accept and retain residents who meet the following criteria:

(i) are ambulatory or mobile and are capable of taking life saving action in an emergency without the assistance of another person;

(ii) have stable health;

(iii) require no assistance or only limited assistance in the activities of daily living (ADL); and

(iv) do not require total assistance from staff or others with more than [two]three ADLs.

(b) may accept and retain residents who meet the following criteria:

(i) are cognitively impaired or physically disabled but able to evacuate from the facility without the assistance of another person; and

(ii) require and receive intermittent care or treatment in the facility from a licensed health care professional either through contract or by the facility, if permitted by facility policy.

(5) A Type II facility may accept and retain residents who meet the following criteria:

(a) require total assistance from staff or others in more than [two]three ADLs, provided that:

(i) the staffing level and coordinated supportive health and social services meet the needs of the resident; and

(ii) the resident is capable of evacuating the facility with the limited assistance of one person.

(b) are physically disabled but able to direct their own care; or

(c) are cognitively impaired or physically disabled but able to evacuate from the facility with the limited assistance of one person.

(6) Type I and Type II assisted living facilities shall not admit or retain a person who:

(a) manifests behavior that is suicidal, sexually or socially inappropriate, assaultive, or poses a danger to self or others;

(b) has active tuberculosis or other chronic communicable diseases that cannot be treated in the facility or on an outpatient basis; or may be transmitted to other residents or guests through the normal course of activities; or

(c) requires inpatient hospital, long-term nursing care or 24-hour continual nursing care that will last longer than 15 calendar days after the day on which the nursing care begins.

(7) The prospective resident or the prospective resident's responsible person must sign a written admission agreement prior to admission. The admission agreement shall be kept on file by the facility and shall specify at least the following:

(a) room and board charges and charges for basic and optional services;

(b) provision for a 30-day notice prior to any change in established charges;

(c) admission, retention, transfer, discharge, and eviction policies;

(d) conditions under which the agreement may be terminated;

(e) the name of the responsible party;

(f) notice that the Department has the authority to examine resident records to determine compliance with licensing requirements; and

(g) refund provisions that address the following:

(i) thirty-day notices for transfer or discharge given by the facility or by the resident,

(ii) emergency transfers or discharges,

(iii) transfers or discharges without notice, and

(iv) the death of a resident.

(8) A type I assisted living facility may accept and retain residents who have been admitted to a hospice program, under the following conditions:

(a) the facility keeps a copy of the physician's diagnosis and orders for care;

(b) the facility makes the hospice services part of the resident's service plan which shall explain who is responsible to meet the resident's needs; and

(c) a facility may retain hospice patient residents who are not capable of exiting the facility without assistance with the following conditions:

(i) the facility must assure that a worker or an individual is assigned solely to each specific hospice patient and is on-site to assist the resident in emergency evacuation 24 hours a day, seven days a week;

(ii) the facility must train the assigned worker or individual to specifically assist in the emergency evacuation of the assigned hospice patient resident;

(iii) the worker or individual must be physically capable of providing emergency evacuation assistance to the particular hospice patient resident; and

(iv) hospice residents who are not capable of exiting the facility without assistance comprise no more than 25 percent of the facility's resident census.

(9) A type II assisted living facility may accept and retain hospice patient residents under the following conditions:

(a) the facility keeps a copy of the physician's diagnosis and orders for care;

(b) the facility makes the hospice services part of the resident's service plan which shall explain who is responsible to meet the resident's needs; and

(c) if the hospice patient resident cannot evacuate the facility without significant assistance, the facility must:

(i) develop an emergency plan to evacuate the hospice resident in the event of an emergency; and

(ii) integrate the emergency plan into the resident's service plan.

 

R432-270-12. Resident Assessment.

(1) A signed and dated resident assessment shall be completed on each resident prior to admission and at least every six months thereafter.

(2) In Type I and Type II facilities, the initial and six-month resident assessment must be completed and signed by a licensed health care professional.

(3) The resident assessment must accurately reflect the resident's status at the time of assessment.

(4) The resident assessment must include a statement signed by the licensed health care professional completing the resident assessment that the resident meets the admission and level of assistance criteria for the facility.

([4]5) The facility shall use a resident assessment form that is approved and reviewed by the Department to document the resident assessments.

([5]6) The facility shall revise and update each resident's assessment when there is a significant change in the resident's cognitive, medical, physical, or social condition and update the resident's service plan to reflect the change in condition.

 

R432-270-19. Medication Administration.

(1) A licensed health care professional must assess each resident to determine what level and type of assistance is required for medication administration. The level and type of assistance provided shall be documented on each resident's assessment.

(2) Each resident's medication program must be administered by means of one of the methods described in (a) through ([e]f) in this section:

(a) The resident is able to self-administer medications.

(i) Residents who have been assessed to be able to self- administer medications may keep prescription medications in their rooms.

(ii) If more than one resident resides in a unit, the facility must assess each person's ability to safely have medications in the unit. If safety is a factor, a resident shall keep his medication in a locked container in the unit.

(b) The resident is able to self-direct medication administration. Facility staff may assist residents who self-direct medication administration by:

(i) reminding the resident to take the medication;

(ii) opening medication containers; and

(iii) reminding the resident or the resident's responsible person when the prescription needs to be refilled.

(c) Family members or a designated responsible person may administer medications. If a family member or designated responsible person assists with medication administration, they shall sign a waiver indicating that they agree to assume the responsibility to fill prescriptions, administer medication, and document that the medication has been administered. Facility staff may not serve as the designated responsible person.

(d) For residents who are unable to self-administer or self-direct medications, facility staff may administer medications only after delegation by a licensed health care professional under the scope of their practice.

(i) If a licensed health care professional delegates the task of medication administration to unlicensed assistive personnel, the delegation shall be in accordance with the Nurse Practice Act and R156-31B-701.

(ii) The medications must be administered according to the prescribing order.

(iii) The delegating authority must provide and document supervision, evaluation, and training of unlicensed assistive personnel assisting with medication administration.

(iv) The delegating authority or another registered nurse shall be readily available either in person or by telecommunication.

(e) Residents may independently administer their own personal insulin injections if they have been assessed to be independent in that process. This may be done in conjunction with the administration of medication in methods (a) through (d) of this section.

(f) home health or hospice agency staff may provide medication administration to facility residents exclusively, or in conjunction with (a) through ([d]e) of this section.

(3) The facility must have a licensed health care professional or licensed pharmacist review all resident medications at least every six months.

(4) Medication records shall include the following:

(a) the resident's name;

(b) the name of the prescribing practitioner;

(c) medication name including prescribed dosage;

(d) the time, dose and dates administered;

(e) the method of administration;

(f) signatures of personnel administering the medication; and

(g) the review date.

(5) The licensed health care professional or licensed pharmacist should document any change in the dosage or schedule of medication in the medication record. When changes in the medication are documented by the facility staff the licensed health care professional must co-sign within 72 hours. The licensed health care professional must notify all unlicensed assistive personnel who administer medications of the medication change.

(6) Each resident's medication record must contain a list of possible reactions and precautions for prescribed medications.

(7) The facility must notify the licensed health care professional when medication errors occur.

(8) Medication error incident reports shall be completed when a medication error occurs or is identified.

(9) Medication errors must be incorporated into the facility quality improvement process.

(10) Medications shall be stored in a locked central storage area to prevent unauthorized access.

(a) If medication is stored in a central location, the resident shall have timely access to the medication.

(b) Medications that require refrigeration shall be stored separately from food items and at temperatures between 36 - 46 degrees Fahrenheit.

(c) The facility must develop and implement policies for the security and disposal of narcotics. Any disposal of controlled substances by a licensee or facility staff shall be consistent with the provisions of 21 CFR 1307.21.

(11) The facility shall develop and implement a policy for disposing of unused, outdated, or recalled medications.

(a) The facility shall return a resident's medication to the resident or to the resident's responsible person upon discharge.

(b) The administrator shall document the return to the resident or the resident's responsible person of medication stored in a central storage.

 

R432-270-21. Facility Records.

(1) The facility must maintain accurate and complete records. Records shall be filed, stored safely, and be easily accessible to staff and the Department.

(2) Records shall be protected against access by unauthorized individuals.

(3) The facility shall maintain personnel records for each employee and shall retain such records for at least three years following termination of employment. Personnel records must include the following:

(a) employee application;

(b) date of employment;

(c) termination date;

(d) reason for leaving;

(e) documentation of CPR and first aid training;

(f) health inventory;

(g) food handlers permits;

(h) TB skin test documentation; and

(i) documentation of criminal background screening.

(4) The facility must maintain in the facility a separate record for each resident that includes the following:

(a) the resident's name, date of birth, and last address;

(b) the name, address, and telephone number of the person who administers and obtains medications, if this person is not facility staff;

(c) the name, address, and telephone number of the individual to be notified in case of accident or death;

(d) the name, address, and telephone number of a physician and dentist to be called in an emergency;

(e) the admission agreement;

(f) the resident assessment; and

(g) the resident service plan.

(5) Resident records must be retained for at least three years following discharge.

(6) There shall be written incident and injury reports to document consumer death, injuries, elopement, fights or physical confrontations, situations which require the use of passive physical restraint, suspected abuse or neglect, and other situations or circumstances affecting the health, safety or well-being of residents. The reports shall be kept on file for at least three years.

 

R432-270-24. Laundry Services.

(1) The facility shall provide laundry services to meet the needs of the residents, including a sufficient supply of linens[ supply to permit a change in bed linens for the total number of licensed beds, plus an additional fifty percent of the licensed bed capacity].

(2) The facility shall inform the resident or the resident's responsible person in writing of the facility's laundry policy for residents' personal clothing.

(3) Food may not be stored, prepared, or served in any laundry area.

(4) The facility shall make available for resident use at least one washing machine and one clothes dryer[, the following:

(a) at least one washing machine and one clothes dryer; and

(b) at least one iron and ironing board].

 

KEY: health care facilities

Date of Enactment or Last Substantive Amendment: [May 20, 2014]2016

Notice of Continuation: April 10, 2014

Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: 26-21-5; 26-21-1

 


Additional Information

More information about a Notice of Proposed Rule is available online.

The Portable Document Format (PDF) version of the Bulletin is the official version. The PDF version of this issue is available at https://rules.utah.gov/publicat/bull-pdf/2015/b20151215.pdf. The HTML edition of the Bulletin is a convenience copy. Any discrepancy between the PDF version and HTML version is resolved in favor of the PDF version.

Text to be deleted is struck through and surrounded by brackets ([example]). Text to be added is underlined (example).  Older browsers may not depict some or any of these attributes on the screen or when the document is printed.

For questions regarding the content or application of this rule, please contact Joel Hoffman at the above address, by phone at 801-273-2804, by FAX at 801-274-0658, or by Internet E-mail at jhoffman@utah.gov; Carmen Richins at the above address, by phone at 801-273-2802, by FAX at 801-274-0658, or by Internet E-mail at carmenrichins@utah.gov.  For questions about the rulemaking process, please contact the Division of Administrative Rules.