FEDERAL NEWS

Vaccination

Vaccine Update Today and Wednesday
Hear the latest on the COVID vaccine on today’s LeadingAge national policy update, including updates from over the weekend. Also, public health expert Dr. Joshua Sharfstein will offer insights into the science of the new vaccines, the hurdles in distribution, and how we can expect the situation to evolve with the pandemic in the early parts of 2021. Register now to join us. (Plan to come back for Wednesday’s update to hear about CVS is planning for the Pharmacy Partnership from Omnicare President Jim Love. Submit questions in advance to Joe Franco.)

Important Notes from the December 13 Call for Clinicians on the Pfizer Vaccine

CVS and Walgreens Release Vaccination Prep Documents
LeadingAge members around the country are in various stages of receiving materials, resources, vaccination dates and information from pharmacy partners. Here are the preparatory materials from CVS and Walgreens.

EAU Vaccine Fact Sheet Now Available from Pfizer
Pfizer has posted the Emergency Use Authorization Fact Sheet for Recipients and Caregivers which is to be distributed to every recipient of the COVID-19 vaccine. The CDC strongly recommends that everyone document receipt of the vaccine fact sheet in each patient’s records.

More Vaccine Clinical Guidance and Toolkits Forthcoming
The CDC has indicated that this week they will be releasing updated clinical guidance for the COVID-19 vaccine, as well as toolkits for long term care to assist with communications around the vaccine.  The CDC stated that there will be informed consent like materials in the long-term care facility toolkit that providers can use to document that residents did consent to receiving the vaccine.

New Pharmacy Partnership Insights for Section 202 Housing Providers
Latest news on HUD Section 202 providers and the CDC’s Pharmacy Partnership for Long Term Care.

Provider Relief

HHS Provider Relief Fund FAQs on Allowable Personnel Expenses and Vendor Payments
On Friday, December 11th, the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) released several new Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s) on their website. Of the new FAQs, the most relevant for LeadingAge Kansas’s membership address personnel expenses and third-party vendor costs.

In the FAQ HHS indicated the following personnel expenses are eligible uses of Provider Relief Fund (PRF) payments: 

  • expenses incurred by providers to secure and maintain adequate personnel, such as offering hiring bonuses and retention payments, child care, transportation, and temporary housing, are deemed to be COVID-19-related expenses if the activity generating the expense was newly incurred after the declaration of the Public Health Emergency and the expenses were necessary to secure and maintain adequate personnel.

In terms of outsourced vendor payments that might be deemed an allowable use of PRF disbursements, HHS has stated –

  • outsourced or third-party vendor services that enable sustained access to health care services and daily operations, such as food/patient nutrition services, facilities management, laundering, and disinfection/anti-contamination services, are considered reimbursable expenses if they are attributable to coronavirus.

As you continue to evaluate which of your costs are qualified uses of the PRF distributions, the most important criterion that must be considered is – costs are only eligible to the extent they have not been reimbursed by other sources.

For more information, please see the FAQs.

 Article provided by Kailey Riskowski CPA of Bland & Associates.

LEADINGAGE KANSAS NEWS

Weekly Webinars: Fridays at 10 AM
Stay up to date on what is happening at the state and federal level regarding all things COVID-19 and vaccinations. Here is the link to register .

Coping with COVID Group Meeting – Mondays at Noon
We are gaining momentum with our Coping with COVID group meetings. Any member’s employees can participate each Monday at Noon by registering here. Drop in if you get a chance.

Outbreak?  
Let Dana dana@leadingagekansas.org know if you are experiencing a COVID-19 outbreak and we have not reached out to you, yet. We want to be here for you.

LEADINGAGE NEWS

Previous articleCOVID-19/Novel Coronavirus Update 12-11-2020
Next articleKING Renewal
Avatar photo
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.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR