STATE NEWS
Update from KDHE
- The last of the test orders should ship out last week. Everyone should now have them.
- COVID Numbers are likely 5-10 times higher than what is being reported because much of the public is taking at-home tests and not reporting the outcome to local health departments.
- People over 65 are still making up the majority of deaths from COVID-19 so their protection is important.
- The lifting of mask mandates in LTC is likely not going away anytime soon because of the above. Just when we think we are out of the woods a new variant pops up.
FEDERAL NEWS
Blanket Waivers Terminating Monday, June 6th
A second-round of 1135 blanket waivers will terminate on Monday, June 6th. With this second round of early terminations, many of the waivers utilized by nursing homes will be eliminated, though some waivers remain. The Qualifying Hospital Stay, or 3-day stay waiver, remains in effect at this time. Among waivers terminating on June 6th, providers will want to note details pertaining to the nurse aide training waiver, in-servicing waiver, and Physical Environment and Life Safety Code waivers related to temporary spaces and temporary construction to address surge capacity. Read here for more information.
HHS Extends American Rescue Plan HCBS Spending Deadline
Friday, HHS is notifying states that they now have an additional year — through March 31, 2025 — to use funding made available by the American Rescue Plan (ARP) to enhance, expand, and strengthen HCBS for people with Medicaid who need long-term services and supports, including strengthening the direct service workforce by increasing the pay and benefits of direct support professionals. Additional information on states’ spending plans — including a recently updated infographic summarizing planned activities and key investments — can be found here. This LeadingAge article also describes how this is a very important opportunity for LeadingAge member advocacy with state Medicaid agencies.
No Updates to CDC Healthcare Recommendations at This Time
We have been expecting updates to the CDC recommendations for healthcare settings and personnel, impacting nursing homes, assisted living, hospice, and home health providers. We are aware that some states may have received detailed information about these updates from their state public health authority. We were notified by CDC today that these updates are on hold at this time. We have been told updates may not be released for a month or more and may look different at the time of release than what may have been previewed. With this in mind, we remind providers of the following:
- CDC recommends that healthcare settings, including nursing homes and assisted living, and healthcare personnel including hospice and home health, follow Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Healthcare Personnel.
- Nursing homes can also refer to CDC’s Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations to Prevent SARS-CoV-2 Spread in Nursing Homes for more specific information.
- The definition of “up to date” has changed with CDC’s strengthened recommendation that individuals aged 50 and older should receive a 2nd booster. More information on what “up to date” looks like can be found on CDC’s Stay Up to Date page.
- Nursing homes should continue to refer to CDC’s Community Transmission Rates for determining frequency of routine screening testing of asymptomatic staff and other mitigation measures.
LEADINGAGE KANSAS NEWS
Join Us Each Friday for Our Weekly Webinars
Get the latest on COVID, CMS, the Legislature and more each Friday at 10 AM. If you haven’t registered for future calls, you can do so here. If you would like to listen to updates you have missed, visit this page.
LEADINGAGE NATIONAL NEWS
LeadingAge Coronavirus Update Calls This Week: A Couple of Nationally Engaged Geriatricians on Unique COVID Considerations for Older Adults
With deaths among people over age 65 as a percentage of total deaths on the rise again this year and with cases increasing and surges anticipated, it is important to consider the different symptoms and health outcomes for older adults. It is becoming increasingly evident that people over age 65 are at risk from COVID-19.
On Monday June 6th at 2:30 PM Central, hear from Dr. Elizabeth Goldberg, a geriatrician and clinical researcher at Brown University. She’ll discuss a study on which she was lead author, published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society on the different symptoms and impact of COVID on older people compared to younger people. She’ll offer LeadingAge providers specific guidance on what to watch for with new variants and how prevention and treatment should be framed to best serve older adults.
On Wednesday, June 8th we will take a deeper dive into long COVID and how it is impacting older adults. While many can write off the issues with long COVID as “just part of aging” there is recent studies that have shown that long COVID has serious implications for older adults and that these health issues should not be overlooked. We will be joined by leading Geriatrictian Dr. Liron Sinvani to discuss recent studies of long COVID and provide key advice for those who care for older adults. If you haven’t registered for LeadingAge Update Calls, you can do so here. You can also find previous call recordings here. Note that to access recordings of the calls you need a LeadingAge password. Any staff member of any LeadingAge member organization can set up a password to access previous calls and other “members only” content.
Unclaimed Phase 4 Provider Relief
HRSA notified LeadingAge recently that a number of providers have a PRF Phase 4 payment available but have not set up an Optum Pay account, which allows HRSA to distribute them funds to the provider. HRSA indicates that UnitedHealth Group (via the email address: UHG_HRSA@ProviderEmail.uhc.com) has contacted providers, for which this situation applies, multiple times. Providers who believe they are eligible to receive or have received notice that a Phase 4 payment is pending can set up an Optum Pay Account by going to: https://myservices.optumhealthpaymentservices.com/beginEnrollment.do. It can take up to 2 weeks to complete this enrollment process and then an additional two weeks for the funds to be available within the providers’ accounts. Members can reach out to Nicole at nfallon@leadingage.org if they have questions.
RESOURCES
Trends in Number of COVID-19 Vaccinations in the US
On May 26th, the “Vaccination Trends” tab on COVID Data Tracker was updated to display trends in people 50 years and older receiving a second booster dose.
COVID-19 Rebound After Paxlovid Treatment
On May 24th, CDC distributed a new Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory, COVID-19 Rebound After Paxlovid Treatment, to update healthcare providers, public health departments, and the public on the potential for recurrence of COVID-19 or “COVID-19 rebound.” Paxlovid continues to be recommended for early-stage treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 among persons at high risk for progression to severe disease. For more information about COVID-19 Treatment and Medications, visit: COVID-19 Treatments and Medications | CDC
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