× The federal government has shut down due to the failures of the President and Congress to continue government funding. Millions of Californians receiving benefits from state programs may be impacted. For now, California’s Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) will continue to provide services and enroll eligible families as long as funding is available. No new federal funding to California WIC will be provided until the President and Congress take action. Families should continue to use their WIC benefits and attend their WIC appointments. This information is subject to change, so please monitor the California WIC website for updates.

Please be wary of potential highly partisan political messaging while visiting federal government websites for information related to the federal government shutdown.

Skip Navigation LinksAFL-21-23

Top Menu
Left Menu
State of Cal Logo
EDMUND G. BROWN JR.
Governor

Health and Human Services Agency
California Department of Public Health


AFL 21-23
July 22, 2021


TO:
Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF)
Nursing Facilities (NF)
Swing Bed Hospitals

SUBJECT:
Ending of the Emergency Blanket Waiver of Minimum Data Set (MDS) Timeframe Requirements


​AUTHORITY:     Title 42 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) section 483.20


All Facilities Letter (AFL) Summary

  • This AFL informs SNFs that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) ended the emergency blanket waiver for Title 42 CFR section 483.20, effective May 10, 2021.
  • All SNFs are now required to complete and transmit MDS assessments timely, as required at Title 42 CFR section 483.20. 

As part of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Public Health Emergency (PHE) response, CMS waived the MDS timeframe requirements for Title 42 CFR section 483.20 for assessments to allow providers flexibility in completing and transmitting assessments. This action was intended to allow facilities to prioritize infection control efforts in response to the PHE. The majority of facilities have been completing and transmitting assessments timely; therefore, CMS believes SNFs should have developed practices for completing these assessments, which is critical for resident's care planning.

As a result, CMS ended the emergency blanket waiver for Title 42 CFR section 483.20, effective May 10, 2021.

Please distribute this AFL to your facility's MDS Coordinators, Directors of Nursing, and Facility Administrators.

If you have any questions about this AFL, please contact Susana Belda, RN, California Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI/MDS) Educational Coordinator, at MDSOASIS@cdph.ca.gov or 916-324-2362.

 

Sincerely,

Original signed by Cassie Dunham

Cassie Dunham

Acting Deputy Director

 

Resources:


Page Last Updated :