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The California Department of Public Health has issued All Facilities Letter 19-25, notifying nursing facilities, skilled-nursing facilities, intermediate care facilities, and swing bed hospitals of revisions to two forms – the Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 Section S form and the California Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) form. Beginning Oct. 1, all Medicare and Medicaid health care facilities must use the revised MDS form specific to California.
Changes to the MDS form are consistent with information requested on the California POLST form, which remains optional for residents. Questions can be directed to CDPH-ASPEN-help@cdph.ca.gov or call (916) 552-8910.