BREAKING NEWS

Trump Administration Announces Pharmacy Partnership to Provide COVID-19 Vaccine to LTC Facility Residents… When it is Available
The Administration today announced agreements with CVS and Walgreens to provide and administer COVID-19 vaccines to residents of long-term care facilities (LTCF) nationwide with no out-of-pocket costs. The announcement stated, “…LTCF residents may be part of the prioritized groups for initial COVID-19 vaccination efforts until there are enough doses available for every American who wishes to be vaccinated.” It further states”… LTCF residents and staff across the country will be able to safely and efficiently get vaccinated once vaccines are available and recommended for them, if they have not been previously vaccinated.”

The announcement says that starting October 19, 2020, LTCFs will be able to opt in and indicate which pharmacy partner their facility prefers to have on-site. LTCFs are not mandated to participate in this program and can request to use their current pharmacy contracts to support COVID-19 vaccination. Nursing homes can sign up via the National Healthcare Safety Network and assisted living facilities can sign up via an online survey they will receive.  

Currently there are no COVID-19 vaccines that have been authorized or approved by the Food and Drug Administration and recommended by CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. However, the Pharmacy Partnership for Long-term Care Program is being established in anticipation that one or more COVID-19 vaccines will be available before the end of the year.

Learn More.

TESTING NEWS

Important Survey on Visitor Testing Requirements – Deadline Friday October 16th
The Kansas Legislative Research Department is handling the budget analysis for KDADS. They received a request regarding COVID-19 testing of visitors in nursing facilities. CMS guidance suggests that facilities test visitors but doesn’t require them to test visitors.  Please let us know what you are currently doing in your community. Please take this survey as soon as possible. Click here for the survey.

STATE NEWS

PPE Funds and Ordering Portal Now Up and Running for State-Licensed Facilities (Assisted Living, Home Plus, Residential Health Care Facilities, etc.) 
KDADS received funding from the SPARK Committee on October 1 to help provide PPE and infection control supplies to state licensed adult care homes. READ MORE AND SIGN UP TO PLACE ORDERS.  The products that will be available can be found here.  If a facility has an emergency need for supplies, they should continue to reach out to their local emergency management officials.  If facilities have problems or questions regarding the KDADS process for ordering PPE, contact KDADS.reopening@ks.gov.

KDHE’s COVID-19 update for October 16
Notes on information under the “Nursing Home Metrics” button.  The green, yellow, red state positivity map and county-specific dot grid data is for 2-week period for which all data has been collected (right now September 27th -October 11th)  Below the colorful map and dot grid is another table. Click on the drop down box at the right of this table to see data by county for specific 14-day periods, including the one that is underway but has not been completed (current new 2 week period started October 11).

Question about SPARK Funds
Q.  Are we supposed to spend our SPARK funds by October 15th?

A. Number 5 of the state’s coronavirus relief fund attestation for nursing facilities may be confusing, leading some readers to think that October 15th is some kind of deadline for reporting or expenditure of SPARK funds. Clarification: The October 15th appears to be an internal deadline for organizations to ascertain whether they will be able to fully utilize the SPARK funds received. There is currently no reporting mechanism available to report the outcome of your analysis. We anticipate more guidance will be published by KDADS as HHS continues to evolve the federal PRF reporting requirements.

LEADINGAGE KANSAS NEWS

Here Is the Recording for Today’s Weekly Webinar
If you missed the call today, here is the recording and also the handouts. We welcomed Laci Cornelison from the PEAK 2.0 Program who gave us a brief overview about where they are at with the changes to the program. We also discussed visitation guidance, metrics PPE funds, etc. We also asked the participants to give a shout out to their team during this time. You can find those below.

Here is the link to register for the October 23rd Weekly Webinar were we will have a quick Association Business Meeting and provide further updates on what is happening with COVID at the state and federal levels.

Have a topic recommendation or an idea for a poll? Let us know. 

FEDERAL NEWS

Q&A from Provider Relief Fund Session at Last Week’s Conference. 

  1. Q. What do we report these funds on? The Form 990? A. Reporting of the provider relief funds, which will occur within a system designed by the Department of Health and Human Services.
  2. Q. Assuming loan forgiveness on Paycheck Protection Program, how is the “grant” expressed in our report? Is it considered income? A. Under the current reporting guidance (as of 10/5), PPP loan proceeds that have been forgiven will be reflected as “Other Assistance”.
  3. Q. On Kansas Medicaid cost report, do you anticipate that increased expense and offsetting federal reimbursement will impact rate setting? A. We have contacted the State of Kansas regarding the possible impact the Provider Relief Funds will have on the cost report and/or reimbursement and have not yet received a response. We cannot speculate, at this point, as to what their stance will be.
  4. Q. You can keep monies to pay for the audit, right? A. If this question is in regards to the expense that might be incurred for the performance of a single audit, we believe you could justify the expense of the audit as a general and administrative overhead expense attributable to coronavirus, however, you will have to have incurred the expense within the allowable timeframe of using Provider Relief Funds (must be used by June 30, 2020).
  5. Q. Can I get a copy of the example of an HHS Relief Fund schedule that was shared during the presentation? A. If you attended the session and would like to receive this tool please email Bob Dick bdick@blandcpa.com. We also strongly encourage members to consult their CPA about reporting Relief funds. The presenter gives permission for you to share it with other appropriate employees in your organization.

LEADINGAGE NEWS

Coronavirus Spotlight Podcasts
The podcast series, LeadingAge Coronavirus Spotlights, is growing its features presentations by LeadingAge members and subject-matter experts who have been guests on our live online policy updates. Listen to these brief but informative podcasts to learn more about how your colleagues are coping with the pandemic. For the full-length audio of all the updates, visit the Online Policy Updates Archive.

Communicating About COVID-19
As the COVID-19 pandemic grows, it has been crucial that members maintain transparent communication about positive cases with staff, residents, and families. We created templates, draft statements, messages and a full set of COVID Crisis Communications Tools, including a QuickCast on Media Relations Amid COVID-19, and advice and talking points for Responding to Negative Narratives. We’re also offering a session at the 2020 Annual Meeting, “PR Lessons from COVID-19: Where Do We Go from Here?” Check out the entire educational program and register for the meeting to join us.

Other Important Information From LAN

RESOURCES

Sign Up for a New Place to Learn, Connect and Get Answers to COVID-19 Challenges
Project ECHO National Nursing Home COVID-19 Action Network (aka the “Network”) is a new evidence and case-based training collaboration and mentorship program for any Medicare and/or Medicaid certified nursing home community. Here are the basics.

LeadingAge Kansas encourages members that provide nursing home care to give serious consider joining the Network to work with a team of specialists and peers to finely hone your team’s COVID-19 knowledge and skills. Network communities will complete a virtual 16-week training and mentorship program in groups of 33-35 nursing homes each. Each session will be 90 minutes, split into a 60-minute ‘core’ session of didactic and case presentation, followed by an optional 30-minute Q&A. A resource library will be available to participating communities to help with implementation of COVID-19 safety practices. The Network in Kansas will be facilitated by the University of Kansas Medical Center (KUMC) and will include a wide array of specialized content experts. 

Why join the Network?

  1. Participating in the Network is free and voluntary.
  2. Participating nursing homes not only will protect their residents and staff, they may increase the chances of receiving value-based payments this fall.
  3. In recognition of the time needed to participate, organizations that participate in the 16-week training and mentoring program will receive $6,000 in compensation. (Must send at least 2 attendees to at least 13 out of the 16 sessions in order to receive payment.)
  4. It’s another way to demonstrate to your residents, families, other constituents and business partners that your organization is seriously committed to fighting COVID-19 and infection control quality improvement.
  5. Questions? Contact Jan Lyon, KUMC’s Project Manager for ECHO National Nursing Home COVID-19 Action Network jlyon@kumc.edu
  6. Learn more at a half hour introductory webinar on October 15th at 11 AM CST 
  7. FAQs
  8. Complete an interest form

Project ECHO National Nursing Home COVID-19 Action Network is supported by the federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), in collaboration with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI).

SHOUT OUTS FROM MEMBERS TO THEIR TEAMS

  • Shout out to my Activity/Social Service Director…Staci has embraced the trials and tribulations of social/physical distancing.  She has worked about and beyond her ability to come up with ideas for activities, social programs, and now family visits so that facility is still a home to those that live and work here!! – Amanda Atkinson with Solomon Valley Manor in Solomon
  • Travis Becker, CFO from Moundridge Manor has led our COVID team since March and has been an unfailing support for all! – Travis Becker, Moundridge Manor in Moundridge
  • The whole team…Everyone is tired but still comes to work and gives it their all! – Kayla Brown with Anthony Community Care Home in Anthony
  • My Director of Nursing has been helping on the floor so much during the past 2 weeks while we deal with COVID. – Sandra Cline with Protection Valley Manor in Protection
  • Nisha Trevino.  DON at Phillips County Retirement Center.  COVID extraordinaire!!  She keeps the wheels on the bus! – Nate Glendening with Phillips County Retirement Center in Phillipsburg
  • The entire team at Homestead Health Center has been dedicated to not only providing residents with compassionate care, engaging activities, and keeping them safe throughout this pandemic.  We are blessed with dedicated, caring staff!! – Beth Green, Homestead Health Center in Wichita
  • All the Prairie Mission team.  They have done a great job trying to keep our residents happy and healthy during this trying time! – Christy with Prairie Mission Retirement Village in St. Paul
  • Jeremy Armstrong has gone above and beyond to make sure the residents rights are met.  The struggles with CMS and the county testing.  The Resident Care Center Staff have gone ABOVE and Beyond for our residents, aka our FAMILY!!  Their loving care, passion for doing things right to keep our residents safe, are seen daily.  We have a motto “FAITH over FEAR” and we live this every day.  #RCCSTRONG – Pam Hollerich with Republic County Hospital LTCU in Beloit
  • A huge thank you for all the GSS-Parsons staff.  They have adapted to all the changes with COVID with smiles on their faces. –Crystal Packard, Good Samaritan Society in Parsons
  • Sunshine Meadows Retirement Community Nursing Management Team – INCREDIBLE teamwork in performing testing for all of our staff and residents’ multiple times per week! It is amazing to watch these gals work together! – Nathan Spencer with Sunshine Meadows Retirement Center in Buhler
  • Tasha Vela, RN, BSN, DON is simply AMAZING.  She is stays resident focused and has been my partner to provide programs and policies that support the resident’s lives.  She has used emotional intelligence to lead and to help residents be their own best advocate – their voices are heard.  During all this craziness, she keeps us all forward focused and supported.  Our residents and team are extremely blessed to have such a dedicated leader. – Karen Sturchio, Kansas Christian Home in Newton
  • Gwen Thompson; Director of Nursing at Pioneer Lodge has done a wonderful job with keeping up with the regulations and all the changes for COVID all while having to fill in shift positions here at Pioneer Lodge. – Diana Thompson with Pioneer Lodge in Coldwater
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Nicole Schings
Nicole Schings is the Director of Member Services and Business Development. Nicole joined the association in 2018, and oversees our Member Services program, our Partnership and Associate Member relationships, and our online education system. A graduate of Washburn University, Nicole uses her 22 years of experience in the association world to enhance the support of our members, problem solve their issues and bring new partners into the LeadingAge Kansas family. Outside of work, Nicole is passionate about geocaching and moments spent with her dog, Blu. You can reach Nicole directly at 785.670.8048.

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