Admissions - Health Assessment

How AHCA classifies it

Florida classifies each deficiency under section 429.19, Florida Statutes: Class I (imminent danger), Class II (direct threat), Class III (indirect or potential threat) and Class IV (minor, paperwork-level). Class III is by far the most common.

Where it is cited

What the requirement says

AHCA’s requirement text as it appears on the inspection report, verbatim.

429.26 (5) Each resident must have been examined by a licensed physician, a licensed physician assistant, or a licensed advanced practice registered nurse within 60 days before admission to the facility or within 30 days after admission to the facility, except as provided in s. 429.07. The information from the medical examination must be recorded on the practitioner's form or on a form adopted by agency rule. The medical examination form, signed only by the practitioner, must be submitted to the owner or administrator of the facility, who shall use the information contained therein to assist in the determination of the appropriateness of the resident's admission to or continued residency in the facility. The medical examination form may only be used to record the practitioner's direct observation of the patient at the time of examination and must include the patient's medical history. Such form does not guarantee admission to, continued residency in, or the delivery of services at the facility and must be used only as an informative tool to assist in the determination of the appropriateness of the resident's admission to or continued residency in the facility. The medical examination form, reflecting the resident's condition on the date the examination is performed, becomes a permanent part of the facility's record of the resident and must be made available to the agency during inspection or upon request. An assessment that has been completed through the Comprehensive Assessment and Review for Long-Term Care Services (CARES) Program fulfills the requirements for a medical examination under this subsection and s. 429.07(3)(b)6. (6) Any resident accepted in a facility and placed by the Department of Children and Families must have been examined by medical personnel within 30 days before placement in the facility. The examination must include an assessment of the appropriateness of placement in a facility. The findings of this examination must be recorded on the examination form provided by the agency. The completed form must accompany the resident and be submitted to the facility owner or administrator. Additionally, in the case of a mental health resident, the Department of Children and Families must provide documentation that the individual has been assessed by a psychiatrist, clinical psychologist, clinical social worker, or psychiatric nurse, or an individual who is supervised by one of these professionals, and determined to be appropriate to reside in an assisted living facility. The documentation must be in the facility within 30 days after the mental health resident has been admitted to the facility. An evaluation completed upon discharge from a state mental hospital meets the requirements of this subsection related to appropriateness for placement as a mental health resident provided that it was completed within 90 days prior to admission to the facility. The Department of Children and Families shall provide to the facility administrator any information about the resident which would help the administrator meet his or her responsibilities under subsection (1). Further, Department of Children and Families personnel shall explain to the facility operator any special needs of the resident and advise the operator whom to call should problems arise. The Department of Children and Families shall advise and assist the facility administrator when the special needs of residents who are recipients of optional state supplementation require such assistance. 59A-36.006 (2) HEALTH ASSESSMENT. As part of the admission criteria, an individual must undergo a face-to-face medical examination completed by a health care practitioner as specified in either paragraph (a) or (b) of this subsection. (a) A medical examination completed within 60 days before or within 30 days after the individual's admission to a facility pursuant to Section 429.26(5), F.S. The examination must address the following: 1. The physical and mental status of