Healthcare Facility Regulation Division COVID-19 Information

Partnering with GHCA on Nurse Aide Training

On April 2, 2020, under the authority of the Section 1135 blanket waiver issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on March 30, 2020, the Department approved a temporary nurse aide training program to address staffing challenges in nursing homes. This temporary training program was established with assistance from the Georgia Health Care Association and Alliant Health Solutions to provide quick onboarding for nurse aides that will be needed to care for residents during this emergency period. Please see program notice and application below:

Download this pdf file.Notice - Temporary Nursing Aide Training Program

Download this pdf file.Temporary Nursing Aide Training Program Application

IMPORTANT NOTICE ON FINGERPRINT BACKGROUND CHECKS

Rule Variance for Fingerprint Criminal Background Checks:  Chapter 111-8-12-.06(3)(a)

Applicable to:

  • Adult Day Centers
  • Assisted Living Communities
  • Home Health Agencies
  • Hospices
  • Intermediate Care Homes
  • Nursing Homes
  • Personal Care Homes
  • Private Home Care Providers

Effective March 20, 2020, due to the closure of fingerprint locations and social distancing directives, under the authority of the March 20, 2020, Executive Order issued by Governor Kemp, the Department is extending the grace period for fingerprint criminal background checks, as follows:

  • All individuals (new owners, new administrators and new direct access employees) subject to fingerprint criminal background check requirements may work immediately, under general supervision, once the facility has (1) entered the individual in the Georgia Criminal Background Check System (GCHEXS); and (2) completed all of the screening requirements (such as registry checks, normal employment processes, etc.) except for the fingerprinting itself.  The fingerprinting and final determination (satisfactory or unsatisfactory) may be delayed until the State of Emergency is lifted.
  • This grace period will extend for the period of the State of Emergency as declared by the Governor on March 14, 2020.
  • General, rather than direct, supervision of the individual with the pending fingerprint check will be acceptable during this grace period. 
  • Unless other federal waivers are issued, nursing homes must continue to comply with federal regulations that require a name-based background check prior to beginning work in the facility.

More information on this change will be posted on the department’s website:

https://dch.georgia.gov/

COVID-19 Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) Guidance

 

INFORMATION FOR SKILLED NURSING FACILITIES, ASSISTED LIVING COMMUNITIES AND PERSONAL CARE HOMES 

Click here to read a joint statement regarding measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in skilled nursing facilities, assisted living communities and personal care homes.

For more info on COVID-19, visit the CDC and DPH sites.

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE RELATED TO COVID-19 OUTBREAK: DOCUMENT REQUESTS

Effective immediately, we are no longer accepting the following documents by fax or U.S. mail.  All documents and requests must be sent electronically VIA EMAIL OR ONLINE SUBMISSION.  Please use the links and addresses below to submit these requests online.  MAIL OR FAX CANNOT BE ACCEPTED AT THIS TIME.  Thank you for your cooperation as we focus on critical resources on this public health crisis.

File a Complaint:  https://dch.georgia.gov/divisionsoffices/healthcare-facility-regulation/facility-licensure/hfr-file-complaint

Open Records Requests:   HFRDOpenRecords@dch.ga.gov

License Applications and Fee Payments:  HFRD.applicationswaivers@dch.ga.gov  Please send an email to request an address or link for mailing fee payments. 

Requests for a Hearing:  HFRD.legal@dch.ga.gov

Facility-Reported Incidents:  https://dch.georgia.gov/facility-incident-report-form

 

General inquiries: 

Facility Types

Acute Care (Hospital/ASC, etc.)

HFRD.acute@dch.ga.gov

Diagnostic Services (Lab/Xray)

HFRD.diagnostic@dch.ga.gov

Drug Treatment

HFRD.drug@dch.ga.gov

Home Health and Hospice

HFRD.hospiceHH@dch.ga.gov

Nursing Homes

HFRD.NH@dch.ga.gov

Personal Care Homes (ALC, Adult Day, CLA)

HFRD.pch@dch.ga.gov

Private Home Care

HFRD.phcp@dch.ga.gov

Specialized Care (ESRD, Rural Health, OPT, etc.)

HFRD.specialized@dch.ga.gov

Miscellaneous

Civil Money Penalty Grant

CMPGrant.HFRD@dch.ga.gov

Deemed Status for Private Home Care, DATEP, CLA

HFRD.deemedstatus@dch.ga.gov