Assisted Living Facilities Request Waivers and Variances from DHS

The Bureau for Assisted Living on Tuesday, March 31, 2020, hosted an Assisted Living Forum specifically for leaders of assisted living facilities.

During the presentation, Bureau representatives addressed the lack of blanket waivers and variances for assisted living but did encourage facility leaders to file individual requests. The most important areas where leaders need a variance because of the COVID-19 pandemic include:

• Delaying TB tests during pre-employment screening;

• Allowing the use of minors not enrolled in certified nursing assistant programs to serve as caregivers; and

• Delaying the practice of fire drills.

Training was another area addressed, and representatives made it known that in-person training has been replaced by distance learning facilitated by the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.

Please contact a member of Reinhart’s Health Care Practice with any questions you may have, and visit Reinhart’s Coronavirus Resource Center for additional up-to-date information.