New Brief: A Closer Look at the Revised Nursing Facility Regulations

The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care, the Center for Medicare Advocacy and Justice in Aging have released the first in a series of briefs regarding the changes to the Nursing Facility regulations.  This first brief focuses on Assessment, Care Planning & Discharge Planning.

Here is the executive summary:

Revised nursing facility regulations broadly affect facility practices, including assessment care planning and discharge planning. The revised assessment process places greater emphasis on a resident’s preferences, goals, and life history. Regarding care planning, a facility must develop and implement a baseline care plan within 48 hours of a resident’s admission, with the comprehensive care plan to be developed subsequently. The care planning team has been expanded to require (among other things) participation by a nurse aide with responsibility for the resident, and the facility must facilitate resident participation. Care planning should include planning for discharge, and the facility must document any determination that discharge to the community is not feasible.

A facility now will have to complete an assessment as well as a baseline care plan that has to be done within 48 hours from admission, as well as a “‘comprehensive, person-centered care plan; for each resident within seven days of the initial assessment.”

As far as effective dates, the brief explains that “[t]he revised regulations’ assessment provisions are effective on November 28, 2016. Most care planning and discharge planning provisions will be effective on the same date, except for provisions relating to baseline care plans (11/28/2017) and trauma informed care (11/28/2019).”

Be sure to bookmark this brief (or save it to your important documents folder) and keep an eye out for the subsequent briefs. Kudos to these 3 amazing organizations!