Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 59AER20-1 - Hospital Screening Requirements for Long-Term Care Facility Residents

(1) Applicability. The requirements of this emergency rule apply to all hospitals licensed under Chapter 395, F.S.

(2) Definitions.

(a) "Long-term care facility" is defined, for purposes of this rule, as any of the following facilities:

1. Nursing Homes, as provided under Chapter 400, F.S.;

2. Group Home Facilities, as provided under Chapter 393, F.S.;

3. Intermediate Care Facilities for the Developmentally Disabled, as provided under Chapter 400, F.S.;

4. Assisted Living Facilities, as provided under Chapter 429, F.S.; and

(b) "Long-term care facility resident" is defined, for the purposes of this rule, as any individual in Florida that is considered to be a resident, client, or patient of a long-term care facility or who will imminently become a resident, client, or patient of a long-term care facility upon discharge from a hospital licensed under chapter 395.

(3) Mandatory Testing for COVID-19 of Long-Term Care Facility Residents Prior to Discharge.

(a) Every hospital must test any long-term care facility resident for COVID-19, using an FDA-approved lab-based PCR test, prior to discharging the individual to any long-term care facility.

(b) A hospital is prohibited from discharging any long-term care facility resident who tests positive for COVID-19 to any long-term care facility until the individual has two consecutive negative test results separated by 24 hours, unless the receiving long-term care facility has a dedicated wing, unit or building with dedicated staff to accept COVID-19 positive residents.

Notes

Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 59AER20-1

Rulemaking authority 408.819, 408.821(4), FS Law Implemented 408.819, 408.821(4) FS.

Adopted by Florida Register Volume 46, Number 093, May 12, 2020 effective 5/5/2020.