In this series, we’ve been discussing the major steps in launching your long-term care business in Florida. The first step was looking at the business types and environmental factors (here & here) in favor of this type of venture. We’ve reviewed the licensure application, financial projections and policies & procedures. All of these steps lead up to the licensure survey conducted by the Agency of Heath Care administration (AHCA).
The AHCA surveyor’s job is to make sure you (as an owner or administrator) have the knowledge and framework to operate a successful LTC business that meets all state regulations, statutes and rules. So where do you start? By reading the regulations. There is a lot of transparency in AHCA licensure so make sure to download the statutes and know the rules your business will need to follow. AHCA also publishes a surveyor regulation set; download and study that one too. And finally, read and know your policy manual. Consider the licensure survey to be an open-book test, and you have the books!
For sure, people are fallible, and AHCA surveyors are people too 😊 Our company’s meticulous survey preparation paid off for a client recently when the surveyor inquired about regulations to which her agency was not subject. By knowing the regs and her policy manual, our client was able to manage the surveyor’s questions and pass her survey with no deficiencies.
Let’s face it….. when you’ve invested your nest egg to start the business of your dreams and you’ve reached the last milestone in the licensure process, you’re excited and nervous. We’ve attended surveys where the client became a deer in the headlights when asked about policies and regulations.
This is why it’s critical for you to take the time not to have a superficial understanding, but a true, deep knowledge of the statutes and rules, as well as the interconnectedness of the processes. Surveyors aren’t there for a “gotcha;” they have a job to do and they want you to pass your survey.