STATE NEWS
$15/Day Emergency Payments Showing Up in Bank Accounts Today
- One lump sum delivered to the way each organization receives Medicaid payments
- No strings attached (I.e. does not have to be used for COVID-specific costs)
Formula for calculation:
- 2020 cost report Medicaid days divided by 365 for daily average census.
- Daily average census times $15 times 178 for calendar year 2020 amount.
plus
- Daily average times $15 times 181 for calendar year 2021 amount.
Questions? Email Georgianna at KDADS georgiannna.correll@ks.gov. If you don’t receive your money within the next several days, please let Rachel Monger know.
FEDERAL NEWS
Federal COVID Response Team Facebook Live Event on Variants
The Federal COVID Response Team is offering a Facebook Live Event featuring experts from the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) on Thursday, August 5th at 11 AM CT. Here’s the link to participate: https://www.facebook.com/CombatCOVIDgov. In addition, the Team’s CombatCOVID website has a number of new resources, including testimonials that are in the public domain and may be used on your organization’s website. Dr. Reed Tuckson of the Black Coalition Against COVID-19 is featured in a video on the website on how clinicians can counsel their patients regarding vaccination and monoclonal antibody treatment.
NHSN Changes Coming FALL 2021 – Revision Update
CDC released a one pager today outlining the changes to NHSN Covid-19 Vaccination Data Collection Forms for Health Care Personnel slated for the Fall of 2021. There are 4 main changes: Question #1 will no longer have current healthcare personnel categories data collected – this will be replaced with NEW categories including: employees, licensed independent practitioners, adult students/trainees and volunteers and other contract personnel. Question #3.2 and #3.3 will now be REQUIRED. Question #4 will now be optional and facilities will need to create a monthly reporting PLAN before entering data into NHSN. The one pager gives a preparation advice as well as contact information and the announcement of training webinars for the Fall. Any questions, please contact NHSN@cdc.gov with COVID-19 Vaccination Data Reporting in the subject line.
Paycheck Protection Program Update
The SBA announced that they plan to launch a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) portal on August 4th that should speed up decisions on whether the still outstanding loans of 150,000 or less will be forgiven or if businesses will need to repay them. Rather than working with your lender, there’s a good chance you’d be able to work directly with the SBA if you took a loan of 150k or less. Lenders would still have a say in whether the debt is converted to a grant but the idea is to reduce the workload burden on the financial institutions and also speed up the process for businesses. We will send any more information from SBA on the portal when we have it.
LEADINGAGE KANSAS NEWS
Major Announcement – Our Fall Conference Will Be Virtual
Thanks to all who have helped us make the decision to go virtual this fall. Of course, we were looking forward to a big party and seeing all your faces. We are a little sad, but we do know that we can put together an excellent virtual conference where you can learn, connect, and grow. Stay tuned for more information about the virtual conference that will focus on workforce, policy and COVID. Questions and comments can be directed to Hayley Spicer at hayley@leadingagekansas.org .
Missed Today’s Weekly Webinar Update? Listen to the Recording
Here is the recording and here are the handouts to download.
We welcomed our newest team member, Ann Castro to the webinar. Ann is the Value First Representative helping you save money in a very needed time. Contact her today at ann@leadingagekansas.org
Make plans to join us each Friday at 10 AM. Register here. Let Nicole if you have specific topics we should add to the agenda.
LEADINGAGE NATIONAL NEWS
What Does the Change in CDC Guidance Say – and Why Was it Changed? What Does it Mean for LeadingAge Members? LeadingAge Coronavirus Calls Next Week.
On the call on Monday, August 2nd at 2:30 PM CT, hear returning guest Dr. Nimalie Stone of CDC, as she discusses how CDC is thinking about the Delta variant, the new masking guidance, the differences between the three approved vaccines in terms of breakthrough infections, CDC views on mandates, and other critical issues. As always, Nimalie will talk about how these issues apply specifically to aging services and long-term care providers.
Dr. Monica Gandhi will be back on Wednesday, August 4th at 2:30 PM CT. Every time Monica has joined us, even in the darkest days of COVID, she’s spoken directly and, as many callers said last time she appeared – “she made me feel so much better.” Her informed views of what’s coming next have mostly turned out spot on. Join us Wednesday to talk Delta variant, testing, PPE, and all the burning COVID questions on everyone’s mind right now. If you haven’t registered for the calls, you can do so here.
RESOURCES
Study on Impact of Loneliness on Life Expectancy
A recent study in the Journal of the America Geriatrics Society quantified the impact of loneliness on total life expectancy (TLE) and health expectancy (the duration of remaining life lived in different health states) among older adults, aged ≥60 years.
CAST Updates Functional Assessment and Activity Monitoring Tech Selection Tool
LeadingAge CAST recently updated the Functional Assessment and Activity Monitoring Technology Selection Tool to help members choose the best solutions to address functional, physical, or cognitive decline. Recent revisions include new information for 16 products in the selection matrix (link is an Excel spreadsheet for download) and online selection tool. Learn more about the recent updates.
THANK YOU TO OUR BRONZE PARTNER
