VACCINE NEWS
COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate News Round-Up
Senior care companies and state governments continue to announce COVID-19 vaccine mandates for workers. More and more long term care industry groups are emerging in support of mandates, and Kansas news outlets are hammering nursing homes on low staff vaccination rates. Here is a round up of the most recent news on vaccine mandates in Kansas:
Nursing home/assisted living providers mandating in Kansas: Ascension Senior Living, Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society, Genesis, Brookdale Senior Living, Atria Senior Living, Five Star Senior Living, Sunrise Senior Living (Did we miss anyone? Let us know!)
Governments that are mandating COVID-19 vaccines for health care workers: California, Denver, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois (state operated settings), Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York (state operated settings), Pennsylvania, Rhode Island (state operated settings), Washington, Federal VA workers and military personnel
Long term care industry groups announcing support of vaccine mandates: LeadingAge, American Health Care Association, Argentum, American Seniors Housing Association, AMDA
Kansas news stories
- As threat of delta variant looms, 44% of Kansas nursing home staff are unvaccinated (Identical articles with different headlines also ran in the Kansas City Star and on KCUR
- Kansas nursing homes violating visitation guidelines, families and advocates charge
- Kansas nursing homes fall short of staff vaccination goal as COVID-19 outbreaks continue
- Vaccinated residents die in COVID cluster at Kansas nursing home with low staff vaccination rate
- Kansas nursing homes violating visitation guidelines, families and advocates charge
Kansas COVID-19 Vaccination Overview
- 2,614,051 Total Doses Reported as Administered
- First Dose: 1,452,815
- Second Dose: 1,161,237
- 3,131,260 Total Doses Distributed
- State Distributed: 2,075,080
- 49.9% of Kansans Vaccinated with One Dose
- 43.0% of Kansas Completed COVID-19 Vaccine
Source: https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data
STATE NEWS
Kansas COVID-19 Cluster Summary
As of August 11th, there are 7 long-term care facilities with clusters and one is a LeadingAge Kansas Member.
Statewide Active COVID-19 Clusters
- Clusters: 137
- Cases: 1,003
- Hospitalizations: 45
Kansas COVID-19: Case Rates
- Cases: 344,937
- Total Case Rate Per 1,000: 118.40
- Daily Cases Diagnosed: 758
Long-Term Care Facilities with Active Cluster Case Information
- Clusters: 46
- Cases: 361
- Hospitalizations: 22
Source: https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas
Are Rental Backup Generators Part of Your Emergency Plan?
The Kansas Fire Marshal has released a new letter with things to consider if your emergency plan includes use of a rental back-up generator. Read the letter.
FEDERAL NEWS
Nursing Home Legislation Introduced in the Senate
Today Sen. Wyden (D-OR), chair of the Senate Finance Committee, introduced the Nursing Home Improvement and Accountability Act of 2021”, responding to the various hearings on nursing homes and COVID held last year, as well as other issues. We are reviewing (two big provisions stand out – one restores the Obama Administration’s prohibition on pre-dispute arbitration agreements; the other provides an FMAP bump specifically to support staffing similar to the FMAP provisions in the care infrastructure bill that we support. This FMAP is specifically for nursing facilities and states are required to use the funds to increase payments for wages, retention and recruitment efforts, and improve quality of care by, for example, expanding the use of person-center models and incentives or payments for private rooms for Medicaid beneficiaries). We will have a more in-depth analysis shortly and will be communicating with Senate and House staff to address concerns and areas where we are in agreement.
LEADINGAGE KANSAS NEWS
Our Weekly Webinars Return this Friday
Make plans to join us each Friday at 10 AM. Register here. This week’s Special Guest is KDHE Lab Director Myron Gonsalus who will provide info on new types COVID tests, electronic reporting and courier services being offered at the state lab.
Let Nicole if you have specific topics we should add to the agenda.
LEADINGAGE NATIONAL NEWS
RESOURCES
- Recent article from Standford Social Innovation Review–Countering Isolation With Creativity. Arts programming specially designed to help older adults access and benefit from quality lifelong learning can foster connection with others and restore a sense of purpose and joy to their lives.
- Kaiser Family Foundation Releases New 50 State Survey on Medicaid HCBS responses to COVID 19: It looks at both impacts of COVID on HCBS programs and enrollees and early plans for use of the American Rescue Plan FMAP bump dollars.
THANK YOU TO OUR PLATINUM PARTNER
