The Texas Health and Human Services Commission has issued a revised provider letter (PL 21-43) outlining updates to nursing facility rules, effective January 2, 2022. The amended rules implement new requirements related to consent for antipsychotic or neuroleptic medication, rapid influenza diagnostic tests, and monitoring of multidrug-resistant organisms. Additionally, the rules mandate annual in-service training for nurse aides to include infection prevention and control training. Nursing facilities must ensure the availability of rapid influenza diagnostic tests for residents and educate them on potential out-of-pocket costs. They must also incorporate a surveillance system for multidrug-resistant organisms in their infection prevention and control programs. Lastly, facilities are required to provide two hours of infection control and personal protective equipment training as part of the annual in-service training for nurse aides.

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