Alabama Administrative Code
Title 410 - STATE HEALTH PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT AGENCY
Chapter 410-1-5B - SPECIALTY CARE ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES
Section 410-1-5B-.01 - Review Procedures For Existing Facilities And Facilities Which Are In Development
Current through Register Vol. 43, No. 02, November 27, 2024
(1) The Alabama Department of Public Health has determined that there exists a need for a new license category for a level of intermediate care which is separate and distinct from the current license requirements for an Assisted Living Facility. Such intermediate care is designed to address certain residents' special needs due to the onset of dementia, Alzheimer's disease or similar severe cognitive impairment and are in addition to assistance with normal daily activities including, but not limited to, restriction of egress for residents where appropriate and necessary to protect the resident. The new requirements are set forth at Ala. Admin. Code § 420-5-20, et seq. and went into effect on November 6, 2000.
Without implementation of a procedure to quickly and efficiently issue CONs to existing facilities which were going to continue to provide this intermediate care, there existed a risk that said facilities would not have been able to maintain their license and, thus, placed at risk the patients which these facilities served and the financial viability of said facilities. This represented an immediate threat to the health, safety and welfare of the residents, their families, the facilities and the facilities' employees.
(2) As a result, this Agency adopted an emergency rule which provided a means whereby said facilities could obtain the necessary CONs in a timely manner to prevent any unnecessary disruption of services. By adoption of this permanent rule, the Agency adopts on a permanent basis a procedure wherein said existing facilities can obtain the necessary CONs under a non-substantive review procedure to prevent any unnecessary disruption of services.
(3) This rule shall apply only to existing providers and applicants whose projects are "under development" (as both terms are described in 410-1-5 B-.01(2)(a) above).
Author: Certificate of Need Review Board
Statutory Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, § 22-21-264 and 275.