For purposes of this subchapter:

(1) “Advanced practice nurse” means an individual whose education and certification meet the criteria outlined in Chapter 19 of Title 24, and who is certified in at least 1 of the following specialty areas:

a. Adult nurse practitioner.

b. Gerontological clinical nurse specialist.

c. Gerontological nurse practitioner.

d. Psychiatric/mental health clinical nurse specialist.

e. Family nurse practitioner.

(2) “Department” means the Department of Health and Social Services.

(3) “Direct care” means an activity performed by a nursing services direct caregiver that is specific to a resident. Direct care activities are as follows:

a. “Hands-on” treatment or care, including assistance with activities of daily living (e.g., bathing, dressing, eating, range of motion, toileting, transferring, ambulation); medical treatments; and medication administration.

b. Physical and psychosocial assessments.

c. Documentation, if conducted for treatment or care purposes.

d. Care planning.

e. Communication with a family member or a health-care professional or entity, regarding a specific resident.

(4) “Division” means the Division of Health Care Quality.

(5) “Nursing services direct caregivers” means certified nursing assistants, licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, advanced practice nurses, and nursing supervisors when and only when providing direct care of residential health facility residents. The director of nursing (“DON”), assistant director of nursing (“ADON”), or registered nurse assessment coordinator (“RNAC”) may be designated as a nursing services direct caregiver and counted in the direct care hours and minimum staffing ratios when exigent circumstances require that they discontinue their administrative and managerial duties in order to provide direct care. Within 24 hours of the exigent circumstance that requires the DON, adon, or RNAC provide direct care, the facility shall notify the Division in writing of this emergency situation and provide documentation of the amount of direct care time that was provided by the DON, adon, or rnac.

(6) “Nursing supervisor” means an advanced practice nurse or registered nurse who is assigned to supervise and evaluate nursing services direct caregivers no less than 25% of the nursing supervisor’s time per shift. Up to 75% of the nursing supervisor’s time per shift may be spent providing direct care. Registered nurses (“RN”) holding the following positions may provide the supervision required of a nursing supervisor, and the supervision may be counted towards the minimum 25% supervision required per shift:

a. Director of nursing (“DON”).

b. Assistant director of nursing (“ADON”).

c. Registered nurse assessment coordinator (“RNAC”).

d. Director of in-service education (RN).

e. Quality improvement coordinator nurse (if an RN).

f. Nursing home administrator (if an RN).

An individual serving as a nursing supervisor must be an employee of the facility, thus excluding temporary employment agency personnel from serving in this capacity unless exigent circumstances exist. The term “exigent circumstances” means a short-term emergency or other unavoidable situation, and all reasonable alternatives to the use of a temporary employee as a nursing supervisor have been exhausted. Within 24 hours of the exigent circumstances that require the use of temporary employment agency staffing to fill a nursing supervisor position in a residential health facility, the facility shall notify the Division in writing of the exigent circumstances and the expected duration. For any shift that exceeds the minimum RN/LPN shift ratio mandated by § 1162 of this title, the amount of RN time that exceeds the minimum ratio may be counted towards the minimum 25% supervision required for that shift; provided, however, that said RN time was dedicated to supervisory functions. For those facilities that are not required by state or federal regulations to have a registered nurse on duty on each shift, a licensed practical nurse with 3 years long-term care experience may serve as a nursing supervisor, provided that no registered nurse is on duty. There shall be a nursing supervisor on duty and on-site at all times. By June 1, 2002, the Nursing Home Residents Quality Assurance Commission shall issue to the Governor and to the General Assembly a report evaluating the requirement that nursing supervisors spend a minimum of 25% of their time on supervisory functions. The purpose of the report is to determine if the required minimum amount of supervision time is appropriate and necessary, and whether it should be adjusted.

(7) “Residential health facility” means any facility that provides long-term health-related care and nursing services to individuals who do not require the degree of care and treatment that a hospital is designed to provide. These are those facilities, licensed pursuant to this chapter, that provide any of the following:

a. Skilled nursing services to persons who require medical or nursing care.

b. Nursing services above the level of room and board to those who, because of a mental or physical condition, routinely require these services.

Also included are units, licensed pursuant to this chapter, of facilities that provide active treatment and health and rehabilitation services to persons with developmental disabilities or related conditions, in which care is delivered to residents in accordance with medical plans of care. This definition does not include group homes for persons with developmental disabilities, persons with mental illness, or persons with AIDS, rest family care homes, neighborhood homes, rest/residential health facilities, assisted living facilities and intermediate care facilities that, as of March 1, 1999, were solely private pay, provided they remain exclusively intermediate care facilities.

72 Del. Laws, c. 490, §  2;  73 Del. Laws, c. 162, §§  2-4;  73 Del. Laws, c. 304, §  1;  81 Del. Laws, c. 209, § 4;  84 Del. Laws, c. 514, § 27; 

(a) Every residential health facility must at all times provide a staffing level adequate to meet the care needs of each resident, including those residents who have special needs due to dementia or a medical condition, illness or injury. Every residential health facility shall post, for each shift, the names and titles of the nursing services direct caregivers assigned to each floor, unit or wing and the nursing supervisor on duty. This information shall be conspicuously displayed in common areas of the facility, in no fewer number than the number of nursing stations. Every residential health facility employee shall wear a nametag prominently displaying his or her full name and title. Personnel hired through temporary agencies shall be required to wear photo identification listing their names and titles.

(b) By March 1, 2001, the minimum staffing level for nursing services direct caregivers shall not be less than the staffing level required to provide 3.0 hours of direct care per resident per day, provided that funds have been appropriated for 3.0 hours of direct care per resident for Medicaid eligible reimbursement. Nursing staff, rounded to the nearest whole person, must be distributed in order to meet the following minimum shift ratios:

(c) On or before December 1, 2001, a comprehensive report assessing and reviewing the quality of nursing facility care in Delaware shall be completed by the Delaware Nursing Home Residents Quality Assurance Commission and submitted to the Governor and the General Assembly. The purpose of the report is to determine the efficacy of the minimum staffing levels required under this chapter, including, but not limited to, the availability of qualified personnel in the job market to meet the requirement, the cost and availability of nursing home care, and patient outcomes based on scheduled facility surveys, surprise inspections and other reviews conducted by the Division. Based on this information, the Commission will determine if increasing the minimum nurse staffing levels to 3.28 hours of direct care with the corresponding increased required shift ratios is appropriate and necessary. By January 1, 2002, the minimum staffing level for nursing services direct caregivers shall not be less than the staffing level required to provide 3.28 hours of direct care per resident per day, subject to Commission recommendation and provided that funds have been appropriated for 3.28 hours of direct care per resident for Medicaid eligible reimbursement. Nursing staff must be distributed in order to meet the following minimum shift ratios:

To the extent a nursing facility meets the minimum nurse staff levels of 3.28 hours of direct care and compliance with the above referenced shift ratios provided in this subsection requires more than 3.28 hours of direct care, the Division may permit a nursing facility to alter the shift ratios above; provided, however, the alternative shift ratios as determined by the Division shall not, on any shift or at any time, fall below the following alternative minimum shift ratios:

If a nursing facility cannot meet the above referenced shift ratios due to building configuration or any other special circumstances, they may apply for a special waiver through the Division, subject to final approval by the Delaware Nursing Home Residents Quality Assurance Commission. All nursing facilities shall conspicuously display the minimum shift ratios governing the nursing facility, along with posting requirements pursuant to subsection (a) of this section. Notwithstanding subsection (g) of this section, the time period for review and compliance with any alternative minimum shift ratios or ratios pursuant to a special waiver under this subsection shall be 1 day.

(d) Within 6 months of an appropriation by the General Assembly funding the staffing requirements of subsection (e) of this section, a comprehensive report assessing and reviewing the quality of nursing facility care in Delaware shall be completed by the Delaware Nursing Home Residents Quality Assurance Commission and submitted to the Governor and the General Assembly. The purpose of the report is to determine the efficacy of the minimum staffing levels required under this chapter, including, but not limited to, the availability of qualified personnel in job market to meet the requirement, the cost and availability of nursing home care, and patient outcomes based on scheduled facility surveys, surprise inspections and other reviews conducted by the Division. Based on this information, the Commission will determine if increasing the minimum nurse staffing levels to 3.67 hours of direct care with the corresponding increased required shift ratios is appropriate and necessary.

(e) By May 1, 2003, the minimum staffing level for nursing services direct caregivers shall not be less than the staffing level required to provide 3.67 hours of direct care per resident per day, subject to Commission recommendation and provided that funds have been appropriated for 3.67 hours of direct care per resident for Medicaid eligible reimbursement. Nursing staff, rounded to the nearest whole person, must be distributed in order to meet the following minimum shift ratios:

(f) An individual in a facility-sponsored training program who has completed all but the final 37.5 hours of requisite classroom and clinical training to become a CNA may be counted in the direct care hours and minimum staffing shift ratios under the CNA staffing requirements given in subsections (b), (c) and (e) of this section. The individual shall be referred to as a nursing assistant in training (NAIT). The Division shall conduct a study of the certified nursing assistant training programs in Delaware, both those sponsored by facilities and those sponsored by educational institutions. It shall report its findings to the Nursing Home Quality Residents Assurance Commission (Commission). The factors to be studied include, but are not limited to, the percentage of each training program’s graduates who passed the certified nursing assistant certification test and the number of attempts it took each graduate to become certified, along with the total number of hours, divided by classroom and clinical time, spent in the overall certified nursing assistant training program. The study shall encompass a period of 6 months commencing with the promulgation of the certified nursing assistant regulations. The report shall be issued no later than 2 months after the completion of the study period. Based on the results of its study, the Division shall recommend to the Commission whether a nursing assistant, while in training and prior to certification, should be counted as a CNA in the minimum staffing ratios, and, if so, at what point in the training program.

(g) The time period for review and determining compliance with the staffing ratios required under this chapter shall be 1 week. To the extent a residential health facility subject to the required ratios of this chapter desires an alternative shift schedule, they shall notify the Division of such alternative shift schedule prior to implementation; the proposed shift schedule and corresponding staff ratios must meet the minimum hour requirements and must not exceed the patient to staff ratios provided under this chapter for the night shift. Any alternative shift schedule must be clearly posted along with the postings required pursuant to subsection (a) of this section.

(h) Notwithstanding the minimum staffing requirements established in this subchapter, to the extent additional staffing is necessary to meet the needs of residents, nursing facilities must provide sufficient nursing staffing. If the Division finds unsatisfactory outcomes in a facility, the Department may impose protocols for staffing adequacy, including but not limited to staffing levels above the minimum required under this subchapter. Outcomes examined shall include those outcomes as enumerated by the United States Health Care Financing Administration Quality Indicators. Evidence of a failure to meet the nursing staffing needs of residents shall be grounds for enforcement action under this chapter.

(i) All residential health facilities shall have, in addition to the requirements in subsections (b) through (h) of this section, a full-time director of nursing who is an advanced practice nurse or a registered nurse with 1 year’s work experience as a registered nurse. After July 1, 2001, any newly hired director of nursing shall be an advanced practice nurse or a registered nurse with a B.S. degree in nursing and 2 years’ experience in long-term care or a registered nurse with 3 years of long-term care experience. After July 1, 2001, all newly hired directors of nursing must complete, within 3 months of hire (or as soon as a course is available), a long-term care director of nursing workshop in accordance with regulations promulgated by the Department in consultation with the Commission.

(j) All residential health facilities licensed for 100 beds or more shall have, at a minimum, the following supervisory and administrative nursing staff, in addition to the personnel listed in subsections (b) through (i) of this section: a full-time assistant director of nursing who is an advanced practice nurse or a registered nurse and a full-time equivalent director of in-service education who is an advanced practice nurse or a registered nurse.

(k) All residential health facilities licensed for fewer than 100 beds shall employ, at a minimum, in addition to the personnel listed in subsections (b) through (i) of this section, a part-time assistant director of nursing who is an advanced practice nurse or a registered nurse and a part-time director of in-service education who is an advanced practice nurse or a registered nurse, in accordance with the following formula:

Number of beds ÷ 100 x 40 = hours per week minimum required for an assistant director of nursing and a director of in-service education.

A subacute transitional care unit of an acute care hospital with 30 beds or fewer is exempt from the provisions of this subsection provided that other licensed personnel perform the duties of this function.

(l) For residential health facilities with 15 beds or fewer, the director of nursing, assistant director of nursing, and/or nursing supervisor, while on duty, may also serve as nursing services direct caregivers as described in subsections (b) through (e) of this section.

(m) The educational requirements described above shall be met provided that if an insufficient pool of applicants exists, other qualifications may be deemed acceptable in accordance with regulations promulgated by the Department.

72 Del. Laws, c. 490, §  2;  73 Del. Laws, c. 162, §§  5-13;  73 Del. Laws, c. 258, §§  1, 3;  81 Del. Laws, c. 209, § 5; 

(a) All residential health facilities licensed for 30 beds or more shall have a full-time activities director. Any activities director hired after July 1, 2001, shall be a certified therapeutic recreation specialist, a certified occupational therapy assistant, a certified music therapist, a certified art therapist, a certified drama therapist, a certified dance/movement therapist, a certified activities director, or a registered occupational therapist.

(b) All residential health facilities licensed for fewer than 30 beds shall have, at a minimum, a part-time activities director as described in subsection (a) of this section, in accordance with the following formula:

Number of beds ÷ 30 x 40 = hours per week minimum required for an activities director.

A subacute transitional care unit of an acute care hospital with 30 beds or fewer is exempt from the provisions of this subsection provided that other licensed personnel perform the duties of this function.

72 Del. Laws, c. 490, §  2;  73 Del. Laws, c. 162, §§  14, 15; 

Every residential health facility must at all times provide nutrition and dietetics staffing adequate to meet the care needs of each resident. The staffing level must, at a minimum, include a full-time food service manager. Any food service manager hired after July 1, 2001, must be a registered dietitian or a certified dietitian/nutritionist, a registered dietetic technician, a certified dietary manager, or must have a Bachelor of Science or associate degree in food service management or related field. The educational requirements shall be met provided that if an insufficient pool of applicants exists, other qualifications may be deemed acceptable in accordance with regulations promulgated by the Department. A sub-acute transitional care unit of an acute care hospital with 30 beds or fewer is exempt from the provisions of this subsection provided that other licensed personnel perform the duties of this function. Any full-time food service manager with a minimum of 3 years’ experience as a full-time food service manager as of July 1, 2001, shall be exempt from the requirements of this subsection.

72 Del. Laws, c. 490, §  2;  73 Del. Laws, c. 162, §  16; 

All residential health facilities shall employ a full-time social worker, except that facilities licensed for fewer than 100 beds may designate other personnel to assume the duties associated with that position in accordance with the rules and regulation promulgated and adopted pursuant to this subchapter.

72 Del. Laws, c. 490, §  2; 

(a) The Medicaid reimbursement program shall be adjusted to reflect costs associated with the increased staffing levels described herein. Reimbursement rates for nursing wages will be adjusted to the seventy-fifth percentile under the current wage determination methodology for primary care under the state Medicaid program.

(b) The Department shall ensure that 100% of Medicaid funds paid for primary care are expended by the residential health facility for primary care purposes. If, during any annual cost reporting period, a facility expends less than 100% of the primary care reimbursement it receives from Medicaid for primary care, the sum under-spent must be repaid to the Medicaid program. The repayment will be made through a cost settlement process when the provider files its annual cost report. The Department will revise its regulations and Medicaid cost report forms to require a cost settlement for the primary care reimbursement classification.

(c) Medicaid reimbursement of providers shall be consistent with the provisions of this chapter regardless of the payment methodology employed by Medicaid or its contractors, including managed care.

72 Del. Laws, c. 490, §  2; 

In addition to compliance monitoring, the Division shall use data collected by residential health facilities to monitor quality of care and patient outcomes pursuant to § 1162(h) of this title. The Division shall analyze this data in order to help target licensing surveys and inspections. The Department shall promulgate and adopt regulations that define the outcomes monitoring process.

72 Del. Laws, c. 490, §  2;  73 Del. Laws, c. 162, §  17; 

A residential health facility may seek from the Delaware Nursing Home Residents Quality Assurance Commission a time-limited waiver of the minimum staffing requirements required under § 1162(c) and (e) of this title. Such waiver will only be granted upon a showing of exigent circumstances, including but not limited to documented evidence of the facility’s best efforts to meet the minimum staffing requirements under § 1162(c) and (e) of this title. Any such waiver will be time-limited and will include a plan and a timeline for compliance with this chapter. The Commission may seek input from the Department of Labor in terms of issues of labor availability in connection with any waiver request under this section.

72 Del. Laws, c. 490, §  2; 

The Department shall promulgate and adopt rules and regulations to fully and effectively implement the provisions of this subchapter. The regulations will become effective 60 days after adopted by the Department.

72 Del. Laws, c. 490, §  2;