A bill allowing joint provider / surveyor training on reporting and survey responsibilities has passed the Arizona Legislature and is awaiting the governor’s signature.
HB 2051, promoted by the long-term care industry in the state, would streamline facility site visits by allowing joint training between the state health departments, long-term care surveyors, and assisted living and skilled nursing providers.
Senior living industry representatives said that the bill provides clarity about reporting and survey responsibilities. Training sessions would explain reporting changes being made to the survey process and how compliance with those changes will be determined. Efficiencies would be created by providing training at the same time to compliance officers, providers, supervisors and investigators.
“Quite simply, it allows both Arizona Department of Health surveyors and providers to train at the same time, which means they’ll hear the same questions and answers and can talk real-world issues all in the same room,” Arizona Health Care Association CEO David Voepel told McKnight’s Senior Living. “More importantly, it allows the long-term care associations to pay for it, as there wasn’t a mechanism that would allow us to do that in the past.”
Arizona LeadingAge called the legislation a “commonsense solution” that comes at no cost to the state.
“HB 2051 exemplifies pragmatic legislation aimed at improving the standards of care,” Arizona LeadingAge CEO Jaime Roberts told McKnight’s Senior Living. “By enabling compliance officers to receive training equivalent to that of facilities, and vice versa, this bill promises to elevate the quality of care and outcomes we diligently pursue every day.”
Roberts said her organization “wholeheartedly” endorsed the bill and “enthusiastically embraces” any opportunities to enhance the quality of life in senior living communities.
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