LEADINGAGE KANSAS NEWS
Here is the Recording from Today’s Webinar- It Was Info-Packed
If you missed the call today, make sure you listen to the update to get the latest on funding opportunities and more. There was lots of great information in today’s webinar. Listen to the recording here. Download the handouts here. Join us each week to hear the latest on COVID and other important information for organization. Register here.
STATE NEWS
More on Changes in Testing in Adult Care Homes
The state has issued updated guidance that reflects CMS’s revised guidance on testing that was released earlier this week. Read KDADS revised guidance. Questions related to the nursing home testing requirement may be submitted to: DNH_TriageTeam@cms.hhs.gov . Questions related to adult day care, boarding care home, assisted living facility, residential health care facility and home plus testing guidance may be submitted to: kdads.reopening@ks.gov.
Read the Revised CMS Guidance. Routine screening testing of unvaccinated staff should now be conducted according to community transmission rate (determined by the COVID-19 Data Tracker). Read more about these changes and how to use the data tracker here.
VISITATION NEWS
Nursing Home Visitation During Outbreak
LeadingAge reported the other day that CMS has instructed nursing homes to follow the current visitation guidance QSO-20-39-NH-REVISED to determine visitation restrictions during outbreak testing. Our understanding at the time was that nursing homes could conduct outbreak testing according to the new testing recommendations that allow contact tracing and that restrictions on indoor visitation would be limited only to “affected units” where individuals had tested positive. However, we have heard from MANY of you about one troublesome sentence in the current visitation guidance:
When a new case of COVID-19 among residents or staff is identified, a facility should immediately begin outbreak testing and suspend all visitation (except that required under federal disability rights law), until at least one round of facility-wide testing is completed. [emphasis added]
LeadingAge has reached out to CMS for explicit clarification on whether nursing homes must complete facility-wide testing before resuming indoor visitation, or if one round of contact tracing-based outbreak testing is appropriate. We have also asked that this point be clearly communicated with states as we await revised guidance.
FEDERAL NEWS
HHS Plans to Release Phase 4 of the Provider Relief Fund (PRF) – Applications Open September 29th
Phase 4 PRF includes $17 billion for a broad range of health care providers who can document revenue loss and expenses associated with the pandemic. HHS has also created an option for reconsideration of Phase 3 awards and extended the due date for the first PRF Reports, formerly due on September 30, 2021, by 60 days. It is also possible rural long-term care and assisted living providers may be eligible for the $8.5 for rural providers.
PRF Phase 4 payments will:
- Be based on providers’ lost revenues and coronavirus-related expenditures between July 1, 2020, and March 31, 2021.
- Reimburse smaller providers—who tend to operate on thin margins and often serve vulnerable or isolated communities—for their lost revenues and COVID-19 expenses at a higher rate compared to larger providers.
- Also include bonus payments for providers who serve Medicaid, CHIP and Medicare patients, who tend to be lower income and have greater and more complex medical needs.
Plus New Rural Payments
HRSA will make American Rescue Plan (ARP) rural payments to providers based on the amount of Medicaid, CHIP and Medicare services they provide to persons who live in rural areas as defined by the HHS Federal Office of Rural Health Policy. Accordingly, ARP rural payments will also generally be based on Medicare reimbursement rates.
Applications for PRF Phase 4 and Rural Program
The application portal will open on September 29, 2021. In order to expedite and streamline the application process, providers will apply for both PRF and Rural programs in a single application. HRSA will use existing Medicaid, CHIP, and Medicare claims data in calculating payments.
To promote transparency in the PRF program, HHS is also releasing detailed information about the methodology utilized to calculate PRF Phase 3 payments. Providers who believe their PRF Phase 3 payment was not calculated correctly according to this methodology will now have an opportunity to request a reconsideration. Further details on PRF Phase 3 reconsideration process are forthcoming.
On Monday we will send the link to the 30-minute HHS/HRSA overview webinar about the PRF Phase 4 and Rural program, and the dates and links to the two additional trainings for interested providers that are said to happen on September 30th and October 5th.
Phase 3 September 30th Report Due Date Delayed
Yesterday HHS announced today a 60-day grace period to help providers come into compliance with their PRF reporting obligations if they fail to meet the September 30, 2021 deadline for the first PRF Reporting Time Period. The deadlines to use funds and the Reporting Time Period will not change. HHS will not initiate recoupment or similar enforcement actions for noncompliant providers during this grace period.
Hot Off the Press- White House announced $2.1 billion in funding to improve infection prevention and control in healthcare settings today. Beginning in October, $500 million of this funding will go directly to supporting nursing homes. These federal dollars will be funneled through state public health to staff, train, and deploy strike teams to:
- Provide surge capacity for clinical care
- Address staffing shortages
- Strengthen infection prevention and control activities to prevent, detect, and contain outbreaks, including providing support for COVID-19 boosters
More details as they become available…
CDC Training Webinars on NHSN Vaccination Modules
CDC announced the availability of upcoming training webinars on the NHSN COVID-19 Vaccination Modules. These webinars are directed towards specific facility types and will cover updates, such as new data reporting categories and the monthly reporting plan. A review of how to complete questions #4 and #5 on reporting additional or booster doses of the vaccine will also be included. The webinars include:
Topic: 2021 Changes to the Weekly NHSN COVID-19 Vaccination Data Collection Form for Non-Long-term Care Facilities
Date: Sept. 22, 2021 | Time: 12:00— 1:00 PM Central
Register in advance for this webinar:
https://cdc.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_s3bcqezXTcSnR1oCdM2Z3Q
Topic: 2021 Changes to the Weekly NHSN COVID-19 Vaccination Data Collection Forms for Long-Term Care Facilities
Date: Sept. 23, 2021 | Time: 1:00 – 2:00 PM Central
Register in advance for this webinar:
https://cdc.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_wQWphrcdRvCy4ATVbJ6BpQ
Topic: 2021 Changes to the Weekly NHSN COVID-19 Vaccination Data Collection Form for Dialysis Facilities
Date: Sept. 24, 2021 | Time: 12:00 – 1:00 PM Central
Register in advance for this webinar:
https://cdc.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_4v0vG3SWRQazwkFvf0so1g
VACCINE NEWS
Connecting to Pharmacies for Booster Shots
LeadingAge National is working with GeriMed, an association of 1300 independent pharmacies in every state except New Hampshire and Delaware, to connect pharmacies to settings in need of on-site booster shot clinics. We are asking affordable senior housing providers to fill out a form to express interest in being partnered with a local pharmacy. Filling out this form does not guarantee you’ll be matched with a pharmacy for an onsite clinic and nor does it mean you must partner with any pharmacy you are matched with. This effort is an attempt to introduce aging services providers to pharmacies. Here is the form: https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/6523530/Booster-Clinics-Pharmacy-Partnerships
If you are a state licensed-only facility and do not have pharmacy partner to turn to for help with boosters, please contact KDADS.
LEADINGAGE NATIONAL NEWS
Next Week’s Online Coronavirus Policy Updates
Join us next Monday and Wednesday at 2:30 PM CT for our online policy updates. On Monday, Katelyn Jetelina with the University of Texas will talk about what’s going on with the current surge, what it means for schools, hospitalizations and deaths, and what we can expect in coming months. On Wednesday, Bri Morrison of the National Community Pharmacists Association will join us to provide hands-on help for providers looking to connect with local pharmacies for onsite booster clinics. Register now to join us.
THANK YOU TO OUR BRONZE PARTNER
