DOH Issues Proposed Regulations Regarding Quality Assurance for Adult Homes and Residences for Adults

The Department of Health (DOH) has issued proposed changes to regulations for adult homes and residences for adults regarding quality assurance. The proposed changes implement changes in statute that were effective in March 2022.

The regulatory proposal is very consistent with the statutory language which requires the provider to establish and incorporate quality assurance committees into each facility’s quality assurance plan. The focus should include not only regulatory compliance, but also infection control. Further, each facility’s quality assurance plan must reflect a periodic meeting to take place not less than every six months to review findings identified via monitoring implementation of the facility’s plan and evaluate the effectiveness of implemented corrective action as well as trends and improvement activities. The committee must be comprised of the facility administrator and/or operator, frontline employee representatives from each area of operation, the resident council president, or other resident representative. The committee shall not consider personally identifiable resident incidents, but must meet to review and evaluate the effectiveness of each facility’s infection control plan and regulatory performance standards.

The regulations are issued for public comment, which are due Jan. 16, 2024. Members should let us know if they have any concerns or questions regarding the proposed regulation changes.

Contact: Diane Darbyshire, ddarbyshire@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8828