Does a long-term care / assisted living / group home in Pennsylvania need a medical director?

Q: Does a long-term care / assisted living / group home in Pennsylvania need a medical director?

Yes. The rule calls the role Medical Director. Physician licensed in Pennsylvania; must complete ≥4 hours/year of CME pertinent to medical direction or post-acute/long-term care medicine. May be designated for a single facility or multiple facilities under a written agreement.

🏥 Long-Term Care / Assisted Living / Group Home · Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania: medical director for a long-term care / assisted living / group home

Whether Pennsylvania requires a physician medical director for a long-term care / assisted living / group home, the qualifications, duties and the rule it comes from.

Medical directorMedical director required

Title in the ruleMedical Director

Research date2026-09-03

Qualifications

Physician licensed in Pennsylvania; must complete ≥4 hours/year of CME pertinent to medical direction or post-acute/long-term care medicine. May be designated for a single facility or multiple facilities under a written agreement.

Notes

CONFIRMED for nursing homes (28 Pa. Code § 211.2) — tracks the federal SNF requirement (42 CFR 483.75(i)) already in force nationwide. PA's assisted living rules (55 Pa. Code Ch. 2800) name 'the medical director of the assisted living residence' as one of several parties who may sign resident certifications, alongside the attending physician or a CRNP/PA — this implies an ALR MAY have one, but not that it MUST; treat as open.

Sources (1)

28 Pa. Code § 211.2 — Medical director

Every agreement Pennsylvania names · Long-Term Care / Assisted Living / Group Home in other states