CALA Regulatory Compliance 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under federal law, which document must be provided to assisted living residents that outlines their rights regarding personal funds?
- Admission Agreement
- Resident Trust Fund Statement
- Written Notice of Resident Rights (Correct answer)
- Grievance Procedure Policy
Correct answer: Written Notice of Resident Rights
Federal and state regulations require that residents receive a written notice of their rights, including rights related to management of personal funds.
Question 2: An assisted living facility discovers a staff member has been accessing residents' medical records without a care-related reason. Under HIPAA, the administrator should FIRST:
- Terminate the employee immediately
- Notify the state licensing board
- Conduct an internal investigation and document findings (Correct answer)
- Report the breach to HHS within 24 hours
Correct answer: Conduct an internal investigation and document findings
HIPAA requires covered entities to investigate potential breaches before determining next steps including notification timelines.
Question 3: Which federal act prohibits discrimination in federally assisted housing programs and directly affects many assisted living facilities?
- Americans with Disabilities Act
- Fair Housing Act (Correct answer)
- Rehabilitation Act of 1973
- Civil Rights Act of 1964
Correct answer: Fair Housing Act
The Fair Housing Act prohibits housing discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, and disability.
Question 4: A state surveyor cites a deficiency in your facility's medication storage. What is the administrator's BEST immediate response?
- Request a re-survey before making changes
- File an appeal with the state agency
- Develop and submit a written Plan of Correction (Correct answer)
- Contact the facility's attorney
Correct answer: Develop and submit a written Plan of Correction
Facilities must respond to survey deficiencies with a written Plan of Correction specifying corrective actions and timelines.
Question 5: Which standard addresses the requirement that assisted living facilities maintain accurate, complete, and timely resident care records?
- OSHA recordkeeping standard
- State licensing documentation requirement (Correct answer)
- CMS Conditions of Participation
- HIPAA Privacy Rule
Correct answer: State licensing documentation requirement
State licensing regulations specifically mandate the content, retention period, and timeliness of resident care documentation in assisted living.
Question 6: When must an assisted living facility conduct a fire drill according to most state regulations?
- Once per year per shift
- Quarterly on each shift (Correct answer)
- Monthly on at least one shift
- Twice per year on all shifts
Correct answer: Quarterly on each shift
Most state regulations require fire drills to be held quarterly, ensuring all staff on each shift are trained in evacuation procedures.
Question 7: An administrator learns that a competing facility has reported them for a licensing violation. The most appropriate first action is to:
- Contact the competing facility directly
- Review internal records and policies related to the alleged violation (Correct answer)
- Hire legal counsel immediately
- Notify your state association
Correct answer: Review internal records and policies related to the alleged violation
Before responding to any complaint, an administrator should conduct an internal review to understand the facility's actual practices and documentation.
Under federal law, which document must be provided to assisted living residents that outlines their rights regarding personal funds?