STATE NEWS
Free PPE Opportunity
The Kansas Division of Emergency Management (KDEM) is extending an additional opportunity to Kansas Department on Aging and Disabilities (KDADS) licensed adult care homes to apply for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). There is no cost to the facilities to request or receive supplies through this request. Requests will be accepted until May 1. Quantities are dependent on the number of staff providing direct care for an estimated 45-day supply. The requests will be considered based on the type of PPE products in inventory. Duplicate requests will not be accepted. Requests may be made for the following:
- N95 masks
- KN95 masks
- 3 ply masks
- Disposable gowns
- Face shields
Interested providers should apply at: https://arcg.is/0Kauj0
Kansas COVID-19 Cluster Summary
As of March 31st, we are happy to announce there are no long-term care facilities with clusters.
Statewide Active COVID-19 Clusters
- Clusters: 39
- Cases: 3,379
- Hospitalizations: 68
Kansas COVID-19: Case Rates
- Cases: 302,372
- Total Case Rate Per 1,000: 103.79
- Daily Cases Diagnosed: 104
Long-Term Care Facilities with Active Cluster Case Information
- Clusters: 3
- Cases: 48
- Hospitalizations: 4
Source: https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas
VACCINE NEWS
Kansas COVID-19 Vaccination Overview
- 801,925 People Vaccinated
- 1,229,509 Total Doses Reported as Administered
– First Dose: 801,925
– Second Dose: 427,541 - 1,664,180 Total Doses Distributed
– State Distributed: 1,338,670
– Federal LTC Program: 325,510 - 27.5% of Kansans Vaccinated with One Dose
Source: https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data
FEDERAL NEWS
CDC Guidance Update (Long-Term Care)
CDC gave a major make-over to long-term care guidance this week. The guidance “Preparing for COVID-19 in Nursing Homes,” has been renamed “Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations to Prevent SARS-CoV-2 Spread in Nursing Homes” and includes two prior documents, “Responding to COVID-19 in Nursing Homes” and “Performing Facility-Wide SARS-CoV-2 Testing in Nursing Homes” which were merged with this guidance.
The recommendations in this document were updated and organized to clarify infection prevention and control practices and stress those that should remain in place whether nursing homes are experiencing outbreaks or not. Additional guidance was included to address circumstances when quarantine is recommended for new admissions and for residents who leave the facility, as well as a section addressing quarantine and work exclusion considerations for asymptomatic residents and healthcare providers who are within 90 days of resolved infection. Finally, this guidance is intended to apply regardless of vaccination status. For modifications to recommended infection prevention and control practices following vaccination please refer to CDC’s Updated Healthcare Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations in Response to COVID-19 Vaccination.
PPP Application Period Extended
President Biden signed legislation today extending the PPP deadline to May 31 for borrower applications and June 30 for banks to process applications. The program was set to expire tomorrow, but prospective borrowers now have until the end of May to get applications in. See more here.
LEADINGAGE KANSAS NEWS
Join Us This Friday to Talk About All Things COVID
If you aren’t registered for our webinars, you can do so here. They are a must attend and keep you on top of everything going on regarding COVID and now the 2021 Legislative Session.
This week, we will feature Dr. Scott Latimer from Sunflower Health Plan talking about COVID-19 update and Vaccinations.
If you have any ideas for speakers/topics that you would like us to highlight, please let Nicole Schings know at nicole@leadingagekansas.org .
LEADINGAGE NATIONAL NEWS
CMS Small Call with Provider Associations
Today was our bi-weekly provider association call with CMS. No new information, but a few reminders and clarifications around visitation.
- CDC guidance: The CDC updated infection control guidance for nursing homes yesterday (here). The information and recommendations have not changed, but CDC has provided clarification around many of the recommendations. Remember that CMS defers to CDC guidance for much of the recommendations around COVID-19. While CDC is not the enforcer, CMS / state agencies can enforce CDC guidance as nationally recognized standards when recommendations have not otherwise been spelled out in specific CMS guidance or requirements.
- Visitors and core principles of infection prevention: Can a nursing home deny entry to a visitor who does not adhere to core principles of infection prevention? Yes, but . . . CMS says, “be reasonable.” Nursing homes should make every effort to educate visitors on the core principles of infection prevention. If visitors fail to adhere to core principles, the nursing home should attempt to resolve the issue in collaboration with the visitor. If the visitor refuses to comply, even after education and support from the nursing home, then the nursing home may ask the visitor to leave / restrict the visitor.
- Physical contact during visits: Can residents who are unable to wear a mask have physical contact during a visit? Residents who are unable to wear a mask would “ideally” be vaccinated and should not have physical contact. However, nursing homes are not expected to police visits. The nursing home should inform the resident and the visitor of the core principles of infection prevention, including the importance of source control (masks) and social distancing but residents have the right to privacy during visits.
- Visitors and testing: How should nursing homes handle situations where the state requires testing of visitors and the visitor refuses to be tested? CMS strongly encourages testing of visitors and states that testing is as important as it has ever been however, CMS has also stated that testing cannot be a condition of visitation. In states that require testing of visitors, consult with the state on how to handle visitors who refuse to be tested and contact your CMS regional office to discuss restrictions and conflicts state requirements and federal CMS guidance.
New LeadingAge Resources for Visitation
As CMS updated visitation guidance for nursing homes, LeadingAge collaborated with Pathway Health on a Visitation during Covid-19 Toolkit for members. The 10-segment toolkit helps an organization navigate visitation guidance through a leader’s guide, implementation checklists, competency tools for managers and all staff, and a pre and posttest for all staff. The toolkit can be modified or edited to your organization’s needs. The elements of the toolkit also may be used by various providers and service line in the continuum of care.
Webinar: When 1135 Waivers End
Calling all members in nursing home and acute care settings! Are you ready for when 1135 waivers sunset and regular safety surveys resume? Join us April 8th for a live webinar to review what you need to know and the items your plan should include. Register today.
RESOURCES
Elder Care Providers & COVID 19: Cross-Cultural Perspectives
The Global Ageing Network is hosting a second webinar on the “Elder Care Providers & COVID-19: Cross-Cultural Perspectives” report. The report is a summary of interviews with providers and others in a dozen countries who have shared their COVID experiences up to the end of 2020. Join us on April 6th at 7:00 AM, Central. To register, email info@globalageing.org for Zoom teleconference information.
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