Pursuant to the Governor's declaration of a state of emergency related to COVID-19, the Director of CDPH may waive any of the licensing requirements of Chapter 2 of Division 2 of the Health and Safety Code (HSC) and accompanying regulations with respect to any hospital or health facility identified in HSC section 1250. CDPH is temporarily waiving specified hospital licensing requirements and suspending regulatory enforcement of the following requirements as specified in this AFL.
California has made significant progress in the response to COVID-19 as a result of the collective efforts taken by Californian's, hospitals, and the widespread availability of COVID-19 vaccines. With decreasing case rates, stabilizing hospitalizations and increased availability of vaccines California is preparing to transition the economy to mostly normal operations with common sense risk reduction measures such as masking, physical distancing, monitoring of hospitalizations, and vaccinations.
CDPH is providing 60-day advance notice to hospitals that the temporary waiver of specified regulatory requirements contained in this AFL will expire July 17, 2021.
Hospitals that have a continued need for flexibility can submit a Form 5000a (PDF) emergency program flexibility request to CHCQDutyOfficer@cdph.ca.gov or Form 5000 (PDF) program flexibility request to their local district office.
Licensing
Hospitals seeking initial licensure or to change beds or services to their license shall submit an application online at the CDPH Health Care Facilities Online Application webpage. This shall not require approval before the hospital may provide care, although CDPH will reach out to provide technical assistance to ensure patient safety and the quality of care.
Space
All statutory and regulatory provisions related to the configuration and use of physical space and classification of beds in a hospital. Hospitals may reconfigure space as needed to accommodate observed or predicted patient surge, patient cohorting, modified infection and source control procedures, and other COVID-19 related mitigation strategies.
Temporary changes of use or modification to the physical environment must be restored to original conditions following expiration of a waiver. Where such temporary changes are to be made permanent, projects must be submitted for Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development's (OSHPDs) review and approval (whether the changes involve construction or not) no later than two weeks after waiver expiration. Permanent modifications to the physical environment or changes of use must be submitted to OSHPD as projects for review and approval (whether the changes involve construction or not) immediately.
Services
- Detailed notifications and notification timeframes specified in HSC sections 1255.1, 1255.2, and 1255.25 that are required when a hospital plans to downgrade, change, or eliminate the level of a supplemental service. The notification procedures and timeframes may only be waived if the hospital is modifying services to address patient surge related to COVID-19. A hospital must provide notice to the public regarding the availability of supplemental services at the hospital by posting signage at the entrance of each location and on its internet website. The hospital must provide notice at least 24 hours in advance of the service change to the public and CDPH. Approval is needed if a service is being added or changed.
- Due to the alternative arrangements available for homeless patients authorized by Executive Order N-32-20 (PDF), detailed discharge planning documentation and the provision of nonmedical services to homeless individuals specified in HSC section 1262.5 is temporarily waived.
This statewide waiver is approved under the following conditions:
- Hospitals shall continue to comply with adverse event and unusual occurrence reporting requirements specified in HSC section 1279.1 and Title 22 CCR section 70737(a).
- Hospitals shall report any substantial staffing or supply shortages that jeopardize patient care or disrupt operations.
- Hospitals shall continue to provide necessary care in accordance with patient needs and make all reasonable efforts to act in the best interest of patients.
- Hospitals shall follow their disaster response plan.
- Hospitals shall follow infection control guidelines from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) related to COVID-19.
- Hospitals shall comply with directives from their local public health department, to the extent that there is no conflict with federal or state law or directives or CDPH AFLs.
If you have any questions about this AFL, please contact your local district office.
Sincerely,
Original signed by Cassie Dunham
Cassie Dunham
Acting Deputy Director
Resources