Provider Technical Assistance Section

The Provider Technical Assistance Section will meet the requirements of California Health and Safety Code section 1417.3, to promote quality of care and quality of life for residents, clients, and patients in long-term health care facilities and general acute care hospitals, in the work of the Standards Interpretation Unit and the Nurse Consultation Program. The Section also supports skilled nursing facilities and home health agencies in the administration of mandatory patient assessments and their submission to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) via the work of Health Facilities Evaluator Nurse (HFEN) Educational Coordinators. The Provider Technical Assistance Section has a non-enforcement role within CDPH.

Provider Technical Assistance Program​

The Provider Technical Assistance Program offers consultation services to long-term care facilities and general acute care hospitals to meet the requirements of Health and Safety Code section 1417.3. Consultation services are separate from CDPH survey and enforcement activities, and emphasize quality of care for patients, and provide assistance with the development of an effective Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI) program, and licensure compliance. Facilities may request consultation services by contacting ProviderTechnicalAssistance@cdph.ca.gov. ​Facilities are asked to complete the Provider Technical Assistance Request Form​​.​

Standards Interpretation Unit (SIU)

SIU provides uniform interpretations of state and federal statutes, regulations, and policies to assist both internal and external customers in resolving complex policy questions for requirements administered by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and related authorities. SIU will provide guidance and respond to health care facility and public inquiries regarding these interpretations. SIU will conduct research into industry best practices and support CDPH quality improvement efforts. Inquiries can be submitted to SIU at StandardsInterpretationUnit@cdph.ca.gov​.

Educational Coordinators

The Provider Technical Assistance Section includes registered nurses in the positions of Outcome and Assessment Information Set (OASIS) and Resident Assessment Instrument Minimum Data Set (RAI MDS) Educational Coordinators.​ Educational Coordinators are responsible for ensuring California licensed home health agencies and skilled nursing facilities participating in Medicare and Medicaid programs have access to training and technical support in completing the required patient assessments and submissions to CMS. Home health agencies and skilled nursing facilities may submit requests for assistance regarding these assessments to the Educational Coordinators at MDSOASIS@cdph.ca.gov.​​