COFAR blog

Facing criticism, the Baker administration appears to be backtracking on a requirement that guardians sign a form releasing providers from legal liability if persons with developmental disabilities contract COVID-19 in newly reopening, state-funded day programs.

It is not clear whether the forms will be eliminated entirely, however, or just changed; or whether forms that guardians have already signed will remain in effect.

Department of Developmental Services Commissioner Jane Ryder emailed COFAR last week, saying the administration will “revise guidance” on reopening the day programs “to eliminate the reference to the acknowledgment of risk form.” She added that the Department “will communicate this to its provider community.”

Ryder didn’t explain the change further.

Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) guidance on reopening the day programs, dated July 2, does not actually appear to refer to an “acknowledgment of risk form.” As a result, it isn’t clear whether EOHHS and DDS are actually eliminating the form or revising it in some way.

In her August 10 email to COFAR, Ryder maintained that the release form was “was intended to prompt a discussion of individual risk factors (in reopening the day programs), not operate as an assumption of risk or release from liability” (emphasis in the original).

On August 12, I emailed Ryder, seeking clarification of her statements, but she has not responded.

In the wake of data showing declining rates of COVID-19 infection in the DDS system, the administration gave the go-ahead last month to providers to reopen day programs that had been shut since March. At the same time, however, EOHHS has required guardians to sign the release form, which states that those guardians:

 …acknowledge the contagious nature of COVID-19 and voluntarily assume the risk that you or your loved one may be exposed to or infected by COVID-19 by attending a (provider-run day) Program…

The form adds that the guardian “understands…that this risk may result from the actions, omissions or negligence by you or your loved one, any (provider) employee, and/or other clients at the program.”

COFAR and a number of guardians raised concerns over the release form, maintaining that it appears intended to shield providers from liability claims even when negligence is involved. At least two residential group home providers told COFAR last month they were either declining to send residents to the day programs or recommending that they not go until a COVID-19 vaccine is found.

EOHHS guidance doesn’t appear to refer to a release form

Although Ryder stated that EOHHS plans to eliminate a reference in its day program reopening guidance to the “acknowledgement of risk form,” the guidance appears to refer instead to a “Risk/Benefit Discussion Tool,” and does not appear to state that guardians must sign it.

The guidance states that day program providers must:

Provide all participants/caregivers/guardians with the Risk/Benefit Discussion Tool. After identifying participants who wish to return to the program in-person, providers should discuss the Tool with all participants/caregivers/guardians prior to their in-person return to the program. The provider must consult with them to determine if the benefits of the participant returning to the program outweigh the risks (my emphasis).

Among the additional questions that we and other advocacy organizations have are what the impact has been on clients whose guardians have declined to sign the release form. In an interview with COFAR when the release forms were first issued in late July, one day program provider said that in those cases, day program services would be “provided remotely.”

However, a number of family members and guardians maintain that it is not possible to provide day program services remotely or online. They contend that families are being forced to choose between waiving their right to sue providers that fail to protect their loved ones from COVID-19 or depriving their loved ones of all day program activities.

Is the administration now saying that families and guardians will be able to send loved ones to day programs without signing away those rights?  As is so often the case with this administration when it comes to COVID-19, we’re left with more questions than answers.