The Policy & Professional Services Committee remains focused on watching, reviewing, and disseminating information garnered from past, current, and upcoming State & Federal legislative efforts and partner organizations. The PPSC discusses and weighs the potential impacts from proposed and State & Federal bills  facing the long-term care industry, which includes Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly and Skilled Nursing Facilities to safeguard quality of care for residents.

Over the past few months, the committee has been discussing hot topics such as staffing standards in nursing homes, COVID challenges as new strains emerge, AB 48 Informed Consent – psychotropic consents, mental and behavioral health issues, the value of continuing education units and ongoing training, the ramifications of CMS’ QSO Guidance for Facility Assessments that go into effect August 8, 2024 and more.

We continue to collaborate with CDPH, holding bi-weekly meetings, and work with DHCS including participation in the Workforce & Quality Incentive Program (WQIP) & the Accountability and Sanctions Program (ASP), and convene Delphi Groups on policy-related topics. 

If you are interested in making a difference, and improving the quality of life for the seniors we care for, please join our monthly meeting and get involved!!

Resources: 

AB 48: Informed Consent for Antipsychotic Medications

• Revised Guidance for Long-Term Care Facility Assessment Requirements
• Memo: QSO-24-13-NH 
• URL: https://www.cms.gov/medicare/health-safety-standards/quality-safety-oversight-general-information/policy-memos-states/revised-guidance-long-term-care-facility-assessment-requirements

• https://sjud.senate.ca.gov/sites/sjud.senate.ca.gov/files/ab_48_sjud_analysis.pdf