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The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has released a revised All-Facilities Letter (AFL) 20-46.2 regarding health care facility requests for urgent staffing resources. Hospitals and skilled-nursing facilities experiencing staffing shortages are directed to report the shortage as an unusual occurrence to CDPH.
Additionally, they may seek staffing from their Medical Health Operational Area Coordinator, which can fulfill it or request it from the state. The state has been deploying Health Corps, California Medical Assistance Teams (CalMATs), and contracted staffing to health care facilities, upon request.
Previously, the AFL stated that facilities were required to reimburse the state for all costs associated with staff deployed to the facility. The revised AFL clarifies that is still the case for Health Corps staff and state contracted staff. However, it is only the case for CalMATs after 72 hours. The AFL now includes links to the hourly rates for Health Corps and CalMAT and contracted staff.
In addition, the AFL specifies that facilities need to enter into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the state and has provided copies of the MOUs for Health Corps, CalMAT, and contracted staff. It also clarifies that deployments will be made for limited durations; previously it stipulated that deployments would be made in 72-hour increments.