Division of Aging Exploring Changes to Pre-Admissions Screening Process

IHCA attended a meeting on Friday, July 27th with representatives of the Division of Aging, other nursing home associations, the Indiana Association for Area Agencies on Aging and the AARP to listen to the Division’s discussion regarding the Indiana Pre-Admissions Screening process.  The Division is thinking about pursuing a change to the Indiana PAS process that would extend the period of time in which a nursing facility has to complete the application and Level 1 process from 5 days to 21 days, and thereafter the AAA would see the resident between day 21 and day 60 in order to perform options counseling as required by Indiana law.  The Division explained that the change is being considered because they do not believe the current PAS process is meaningful to the client/resident, and requires options counseling too early into a client/resident stay before knowing enough about the long term conditions to provide adequate options to the client/resident.

The Division has not placed the proposal in writing and the proposal, captured above, represents a discussion of ideas presented by the Division.  IHCA and other associations are being engaged to help think through a potential change.  If you someone on your staff is interested in assisting the IHCA discuss the PAS process with the Division, please contact Zach Cattell at zcattell@ihca.org or 317-616-9001.