NY State EP Alert 9.26.2025|Transportation Assistance Levels Updated DAL
Today, September 26, 2025, the Department of Health (DOH/the Department) issued a Dear Administrator Letter (DAL) outlining revisions to Transportation Assistance Levels (TAL) used by the home and community-based sector. DHCBS DAL 25-11 and its attachments serve to reinforce that the previously circulated detailed TALs (with subcategories) must be included in an agency’s written emergency management plan. The TAL sub-category must also be on the patient roster.
The TAL subcategories were first distributed in 2017. We advise all agencies to review the DAL and attachment to fully understand the TAL sub-categories.
The detailed TALs ensure specific procedures are followed to enhance patient safety based on person-centered needs.
Transportation Assistance Level 1 (Non-ambulatory) has 3 sub-categories:
- Non-ambulatory – Stretcher
- Non-ambulatory – Vent
- Non-ambulatory – Bariatric
Transportation Assistance Level 2 (Wheelchair) includes policies for transporting those with infusion lines:
- Intravenous (IV) infusion lines should be converted to saline locks or discontinued for transport. These patients/residents may be escorted by a non-clinical staff member.
- Patients/residents with a continued IV infusion must be escorted by a nurse or paramedic during transport.
Transportation Assistance Level 3 (Ambulatory) does not have sub-categories
Emergency Management Requirements
Licensed Home Care Services Agencies (LHCSA), hospice providers, and Certified Home Health Agencies (CHHA) are reminded of their responsibility to be compliant with NYS regulations for emergency management. HCP notes that DHCBS 16-11 is often cited by DOH as the primary reference for home care emergency management requirements. Other DALs, including the one referenced above, add information and updated requirements to the primary regulations.
First and foremost, remember that your emergency management plan must cover operational disruptions, staff and patient safety, continuity of operations, and more. The plan must be agency and community-specific, especially regarding your hazard vulnerability analysis (HVA). Review it annually. You must also train all staff on their EM roles and responsibilities upon hire, and again once a year.
As noted above, there are requirements for patient rosters including TALS, and you must have policies and procedures for addressing evacuation situations involving patient refusals. Drill participation is also mandatory.
You can find toolkits and education to help you build or revise your emergency plans in the state-supplied materials available on the NYS Health Commerce System and the state’s Learning Management System.
Last, but not least, be sure to continually maintain all appropriate roles in the Health Commerce System (HCS). Accurate contact information in HCS is critical to the state’s (and your) ability to effectively and efficiently respond to an incident.
HCP notes that there was an inquiry on this topic during the Department’s October 2024 Lunch and Learn, which was detailed in our newsletter, the HCP Insider. Contact the Department with questions about the DAL or other emergency management concerns.
You may also contact us here at HCP regarding emergency management assistance, materials, and support.