LeadingAge NY Submits Comments on Proposed Changes to TB Testing Requirements for ACF Personnel
On June 2nd, the Department of Health (DOH) published proposed regulation changes regarding the testing of adult care facility (ACF) personnel for tuberculosis (TB), and LeadingAge NY provided comments.
The proposed changes are based on the most current clinical guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Tuberculosis Controllers Association, in coordination with occupational health and infection control associations. These groups issued updated recommendations in 2019 that discourage routine serial TB testing and instead focus on evaluating individual risk and encouraging treatment for persons with untreated latent TB infection.
Essentially, the guidance recommends that after someone gets a baseline TB test, they need not get subsequent testing for TB. Rather, an assessment is recommended. Thus, the proposed ACF regulation changes reflect this and require that the assessment be conducted annually as opposed to biannually.
In our comments, we questioned the inclusion of "medical staff" to "develop and implement policies regarding positive findings, including procedures for facilitating and documenting treatment for latent TB infection where indicated" in the proposed regulation. We also urged the Department to permit appropriate licensed professionals employed by the ACF to conduct the assessments as well, should they so choose.
We will alert members when these regulations are finalized. Similar changes were recently implemented for nursing homes, home care agencies, and enhanced and special needs assisted living residences.
Contact: Diane Darbyshire, ddarbyshire@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8828