Communicable Disease Policy Requirements

A well-written and well implemented communicable disease prevention policy that meets NARR Standards can help ensure that you are taking reasonable steps to prevent the spread of disease in a recovery home, whether residents have a condition or not and while respecting their individual rights.

For your communicable disease prevention policy to meet the requirements of ORH certification, your policy needs to address several elements, regardless of the house’s level of support, including:

1. Residents are not required to disclose communicable disease status to the recovery housing operator.

Residents are allowed to keep this information private by law. Residents may share their health condition, if they choose to, but the operator must not require them to disclose any health condition information before providing housing or services.

2. The recovery house must have a policy to notify residents and staff about what behaviors may increase the risk of spreading communicable disease and steps that they can take to mitigate these risks.

For example, the policy can list that residents can use gloves or other protective equipment when exposed to bodily fluids, wash their hands frequently, keep a clean environment and be encouraged not to share personal items with others.

3. The recovery house must have a policy on disposal of any biohazardous materials, such as needles that a resident may use for insulin or other prescribed medications.

These materials need to be disposed of in accordance with recommendations from their health care provider or county health department.

Learn More:

National Alliance for Recovery Residences (NARR) National Standard 3.0 Compendium