FEDERAL NEWS

CMS Rescinds Updated CLIA Memo
CMS has rescinded QSO-22-25-CLIA and will continue to exercise enforcement discretion under CLIA for the duration of the COVID 19 PHE for the use of authorized point of care COVID tests on asymptomatic individuals outside of the test’s authorization. This means that members can continue to use any point of care test, not just ones with FDA or EUA approval for serial asymptomatic testing, for asymptomatic screening. An updated article can be found here.

DOL Announces $80 Million Grant Funding to Improve Shortage of Nurses
To help address challenges to developing a skilled healthcare workforce, the U.S. Department of Labor on October 3, 2022, announced a $80 million “Nursing Expansion Grant Program” funding opportunity to address the shortage of nursing professionals. The Program will focus on two training tracks: 1) a Nurse Education Professional Track; and 2) a Nursing Career Pathways Track.

The Nursing Career Pathways track will allow participants to train frontline healthcare professionals and paraprofessionals, including direct care workers. There should be an emphasis on training persons from historically marginalized and underrepresented populations, creating employment equity, and creating  nursing professional career pathway programs that lead into higher-paying occupations that require more training during the grant period. Eligible applicants include nonprofit healthcare organizations, and nonprofit trade, industry associations, including advocacy groups and professional associations. Individual grant amounts for this track will likely range from $1 million to $3 million. Applications must be submitted by January 6, 2023. Learn more about or apply for this funding opportunity here.

CMS Memo QSO-22-25-CLIA (Asymptomatic COVID Testing)
 On September 26th, CMS rescinded issued a memo rescinding a directive from 2020 for enforcement discretion related to the use of point of care tests outside of emergency use authorizations (EUA). The rescission means that any providers conducting point of care testing must do so within the parameters of the FDA authorization or EUA for that particular test. We have heard from many providers concerned about their ability to use point of care antigen tests on asymptomatic individuals in situations such as testing due to COVID-19 exposure. This FDA page shows the 31 tests that are currently authorized for use on asymptomatic individuals. Providers should refer to this page and to the manufacturer’s instructions for questions related to authorization for testing asymptomatic individuals.

Clarification on CLIA Testing Memo
CMS released a memo on September 26 that rescinded a 2020 memo allowing for enforcement discretion around the use of COVID-19 testing. The new memo states that COVID-19 testing must now adhere to the FDA authorizations / EUAs for the specific test. There are currently dozens of tests approved for serial screening testing of asymptomatic individuals. Check out this LeadingAge article for more info.

LEADINGAGE KANSAS NEWS

Friday Webinar
Join us this Friday for an update on what is going on pertaining to COVID, updates on the association front, and much more.

If you haven’t registered already, you can do so here. You can also see archived webinars and get handouts here.

LEADINGAGE NATIONAL NEWS

This Week’s Online Coronavirus Policy Updates
Join us today and Wednesday at 2:30 PM CT for our online policy updates. Today, Nicole Gann, president and CEO of Juliette Fowler Communities, will share her organization’s insights on the lessons learned during the pandemic and tools LeadingAge members can use to strengthen their organization and lead beyond COVID-19. On Wednesday, Nicole Kostelc, senior manager of clinical support services at Omnicare, will answer your questions as your organization prepares for flu season and COVID-19 boosters for residents and staff. Register today.

RESOURCES

CDC Data Show Serious Impact of Long COVID 
CDC released data from its Household Pulse Survey that now includes Long COVID questions.  The data show that four out of five people living with Long COVID (symptoms lasting three months or longer) say their daily activity is limited; a quarter of them report significant activity limitations. The CDC data show that about 14.2% of Americans report some lingering COVID symptoms, about 47 million people. It remains to be resolved how the additional health and other costs will be addressed, but LeadingAge is looking at this as an area for advocacy.

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