VACCINE NEWS
Additional Precautions for Unvaccinated Staff
There has been much confusion lately over whether an N95 is required for unvaccinated staff under the new CMS vaccine mandate. The CDC continues to recommend universal source control for staff at all times in nursing homes as follows:
Source control options for HCP include:
- A NIOSH-approved N95 or equivalent or higher-level respirator OR
- A respirator approved under the standards used in other countries that are similar to NIOSH-approved N95 filtering facepiece respirators (note: these should not be used instead of a NIOSH-approved respirator when respiratory protection is indicated) OR
- A well-fitting facemask.
In an email from CMS, LeadingAge National has been informed of the following:
Since N95 masks are not required in all situations in the nursing home, use of an N95 by unvaccinated staff in situations where an N95 is not normally required would be considered an additional precaution that could be used. Use of a well-fitting facemask would not be an additional precaution since the current recommendation is for all healthcare staff to wear source control.
This would seem to indicate an expectation that unvaccinated staff wear, at a minimum, an N95 or other approved respirator for general source control at all times as an “additional precaution”.
PACE and the CMS vaccine requirement
We still don’t know if further specific guidance is coming for PACE providers. However, CMS did respond to our question about the responsibility of the PACE programs related to its extensive contracted provider network with the following:
PACE organizations must develop and implement policies and procedures to ensure that all staff are fully vaccinated for COVID-19. This vaccination requirement applies to PACE organization staff regardless of clinical responsibility or participant contact, including to individuals who provide care, treatment, or other services on behalf of the PACE organization under contract or other arrangements.
These requirements are not limited to those staff who perform their duties within the PACE center, as many health care staff routinely care for PACE participants in the home and in other inpatient and outpatient facilities, such as dentists and optometrists. To ensure maximum participant protection, these requirements apply to all staff who interact with other staff or PACE participants in any location, (including homes, clinics, other sites of care, administrative offices, and off-site meetings.
The PACE organization, as the regulated entity, is responsible for developing policies and procedures to ensure that applicable staff (which includes contracted care providers) meet the COVID-19 vaccination requirements in accordance with § 460.74 (d).
Please let Mollie (mgurian@leadingage.org) know any additional questions that your PACE providers have for CMS by Friday Feb 4 and we will compile them and send to CMS.
CMS Updates the Dates in Mandate FAQ.
Last week, CMS made changes in the Frequently Asked Questions document that implements the vaccination mandate for health care workers. The changes provide the deadlines for both groups of states, those who were in the group covered immediately by the Interim Final Rule and those who were required to comply after the Supreme Court ruling that all states would have to implement the IFR. As a reminder, the states that were formerly enjoined have a phase 1 deadline of February 14 and phase 2 deadline of March 15.
New CDC Definition of “Up to Date”
With the rise of the omicron variant, CDC began talking about vaccination status in a new way, using the phrases “up to date” and “not up to date”. This has created quite a bit of confusion, particularly as guidance for isolation / quarantine and return-to-work has utilized these phrases. We were able to clarify with CDC this week that an individual is “up to date” if they have received all recommended doses of COVID-19 vaccine for which they are eligible. This means:
- An individual who has completed a primary series and received a booster is up to date.
- An individual who has completed a primary series and is not yet eligible for a booster is up to date.
- An individual who has completed a primary series and is eligible for a booster but has not received the booster is not up to date.
STATE NEWS
Important Webinar on February 8th at 2 PM: KDADS LTC Provider Webinar on Staff Vaccination Regulatory Oversight and Enforcement
Time will be reserved for Q &A. Presenters: Deputy Secretary Scott Brunner, Commissioner Lacey Hunter, Assistant Commissioner Dawne Stevenson. Here is the link to participate.
KDHE Updates Isolation and Quarantine Guidance for Health Care Providers
The isolation and quarantine guidance for health care workers has been updated following changes made by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Jan. 21. Review the updated table and FAQ document.
The following changes were made:
- Updated infographic and text in guidance to include links to CDC’s definition of what it means to be up to date with all recommended COVID-19 vaccine doses.
- In general, asymptomatic HCP who have recovered from SARS-CoV-2 infection in the prior 90 days do not require work restriction following a higher-risk exposure.
Battelle Testing Updates
- Issues have been reported with adult care homes being told they do not qualify for testing with Battelle because they do not meet the minimum testing pool. KDHE believes they have found a solution, so if you have previously been told you are not qualified please reach out to Battelle.
- Many homes are signed up with Battelle for testing but have not yet on-boarded, mostly like because they are waiting until the end of March. KDHE suggests that homes develop a hybrid testing approach that utilizes Battelle so the facility can get started on the 2-4 week on-boarding process well before March 31st
If you have not yet signed up with Battelle, view these Battelle presentation slides for more details and contact information.
LEADINGAGE KANSAS NEWS
Make Sure You are Registered for our Weekly Webinars
Register for 2022 here if you haven’t already.
Watch the video for the 1-28-2022 meeting here. The handouts for video include the hb2001 enrolled vax exemptions, LKS COVID 19 Weekly Update, summary hb.
LEADINGAGE NATIONAL NEWS
February 2 Learning Hub Webinar “Reporting on Nursing Home Infection Control Provider Relief Funds,” 12:00 PM CST
Come hear from the source about reporting on Nursing Home Infection Control (NHIC) payments for reporting period 2. HRSA Provider Relief Bureau staff will walk nursing home providers through the steps for reporting on the NHIC funds they received in 2020 and 2021 and the unique requirements for reporting on NHIC funds and the resources available to help them with completing their reports. Unlike other PRF dollars, NHIC funds can only be used to pay for “infection control” expenses and not lost revenues. Reporting Period 2 is the first-time providers will be reporting on their NHIC payments. These reports must be submitted no later than March 31, 2022. For more information about the webinar and to register click here.
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