Resuming DHS 140 Reviews
This message is being sent to local public health officers and key DPH staff.
DHS 140 reviews were put on an administrative hiatus on March 11, 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This administrative hiatus was meant to be temporary as the Wisconsin public health system enacted an initial response plan to the pandemic. Wisconsin Admin. Code § DHS 140.08 requires every local health department to be reviewed at least every five years. Twenty-two local health departments need to be reviewed before the end of 2020 to meet this five year requirement.
The entire public health system is under strain due to the COVID-19 pandemic, however, we must remain in compliance with the law. Consequently, Interim State Health Officer Stephanie Smiley has directed DPH to conduct abbreviated remote 140 reviews with the goals of maintaining legal compliance and reducing regulatory stress during this time of limited capacity for local health departments (LHDs) and DHS.
If you represent an LHD with a delayed 2020 site visit or determination letter due to the COVID-19 administrative hiatus, you will be contacted with additional information on how resumption of DHS 140 reviews will affect you.
Below are answers to anticipated questions. If you have further questions, please contact Matthew Collie (608-354-7932), the statewide DHS 140 review coordinator, or Chris Culotta (920-450-4578), Northeast Regional Director and supervisor of the statewide DHS 140 review program.
I was not scheduled for review in 2020. Does this resumption affect me?
No.
The resumption only affects local health departments that had site visits, issuance of letters of determination, or certificate presentations delayed as a result of the COVID-19 administrative hiatus implemented on March 11, 2020.
I’ve already had my DHS 140 review site visit. How am I affected?
That depends on whether you have received your letter of determination.
Received
If you have received your letter of determination but have not received a certificate presentation, DHS has stopped conducting certificate presentations for the time being unless requested by the local jurisdiction. If you believe a certificate presentation would be valuable to your local jurisdiction, you may contact Matthew Collie (608-354-7932) or Chris Culotta (920-450-4578) to schedule a certificate presentation.
Not Received
If you have not received your letter of determination, you should anticipate being contacted by DHS regarding your site visit and determination letter in the next two months.
What are the benefits of the abbreviated reviews in 2020?
The abbreviated reviews in 2020 will (1) ensure LHD compliance with statute and rule, and (2) take minimal staff time to complete. Additionally, deferring the in-depth DHS 140 review until a later date will (3) provide LHDs more time to prepare and adjust to the new DHS 140 language enacted in 2019, and (4) allow the DHS 140 Review Program to analyze and implement quality improvement suggestions from LHDs reviewed in Q4 2019 and Q1 2020.
When will abbreviated remote reviews be scheduled?
LHDs with a delayed 2020 site visit due to the COVID-19 administrative hiatus will be contacted in the next couple of weeks to schedule a review in September or early October. DHS wants to schedule the reviews so that if COVID-19 response unexpectedly interferes with the site visit again, the LHD and DHS are able to reschedule before the end of 2020.
What will the process be for these abbreviated reviews?
Akin to the more in-depth reviews, DPH staff will compile and review the following LHD documentation in advance: (1) LHD annual report, (2) community health assessment (CHA), (3) community health improvement plan (CHIP), (4) board of health meetings, and (5) local health officer qualifications. The list of potential questions asked of LHDs will be significantly reduced and focus on an LHD’s current activities as a way of determining and demonstrating compliance for DHS 140.
We have retooled the reviews for minimum compliance. The intent is that LHDs will not have to spend significant time preparing for the review and will be able to answer any questions during the review with minimal staff participation.
How will the abbreviated remote reviews affect my current level?
LHDs that complete abbreviated reviews will maintain their current local health department level until an in-depth review can be conducted. DHS anticipates returning to the in-depth review process in either 2021 or 2022. The 22 local health departments who will undergo abbreviated reviews will be the first reviewed in-depth.
DHS does not have the capacity at this time to review local health departments for level increases. If your health department desires to be reviewed for a level increase please contact Matthew Collie (608-354-7932) so we can honor that request when we have more capacity.
I have more questions.
Up-to-date information for individuals and health providers on COVID-19 and information on the outbreak in Wisconsin can be found at DHS’ COVID-19 webpage.
If you have questions about the DHS 140 review process, please contact Matthew Collie (608-354-7932) or Chris Culotta (920-450-4578).
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