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The Term Licensed Independent Practitioner Eliminated for ALC, BHC and NCC

Effective January 1, 2024, The Joint Commission is eliminating the term licensed independent practitioner for its assisted living communities (ALC), nursing care centers (NCC), and behavioral health care and human services (BHC) programs. The updated terminology better reflects the full scope of practice of licensed practitioners allowed by their license and permitted by state and federal law and regulation while keeping the intent of the requirement.

Because of these revisions, The Joint Commission also has added, updated, and deleted the following glossary terms:

  • Staff (revised)
  • Clinical staff (revised)
  • Practitioner (replaced with the term licensed practitioner)
  • Licensed independent practitioner (deleted)
  • Provider (new)

In addition, The Joint Commission made minor editorial changes to other glossary definitions where these terms are used.

Prepublication Standards:

Prepublication Standards - Effective January 1, 2024