TESTING NEWS
Important Survey on Visitor Testing Requirements – Deadline Friday October 16th
The Kansas Legislative Research Department is handling the budget analysis for KDADS. They received a request regarding COVID-19 testing of visitors in nursing facilities. CMS guidance suggests that facilities test visitors but doesn’t require them to test visitors. Please let us know what you are currently doing in your community. Please take this survey as soon as possible. Click here for the survey.
STATE NEWS
Here’s the Latest KDHE COVID-19 Report
Check out the report here. Look at “Nursing Home Metrics” for your county’s rate and testing frequency. LeadingAge Kansas staff are in communication with KDHE officials about making sure the state map and colored dot grid reflect the timeframe for the most recent data. More when we hear back. Also click on the “Cluster Summary (includes nursing homes and other adult care homes.)
There are 241 total active clusters, including 20 in long-term care settings. The KDHE Exposure Locations list toward the bottom of the Cluster Summary page includes only places where there are 5 or more symptomatic positive cases. This is of course different than CMS’s definition of an outbreak being 1 or more positive cases symptomatic or asymptomatic.
PPE Funds and Ordering Portal Now Up and Running for State-Licensed Facilities (Assisted Living, Home Plus, Residential Health Care Facilities, etc.)
KDADS received funding from the SPARK Committee on October 1st to help provide PPE and infection control supplies to state licensed adult care homes. Read more and sign up to place orders. The products that will be available can be found here. If a facility has an emergency need for supplies, they should continue to reach out to their local emergency management officials. If facilities have problems or questions regarding the KDADS process for ordering PPE, contact KDADS.reopening@ks.gov.
Other Long-Term Care Facilities Can Order PPE From State Master Contract
All long-term care and adult care home facilities will be able to use the State of Kansas master contract (state use contract) to purchase PPE and other COVID-19 related supplies. Here is the approved vendors list. Facilities will need to review the list of vendors to identify those that have the needed supplies and follow the instructions from each vendor to order supplies. KDADS is not providing funding to facilities to make PPE purchases through these contracts, but rather seeking to make available reliable pipelines for supplies. The agency has previously said that the SPARK $19.54 prd X 120 days that nursing homes received can be used in part to pay for PPE. If facilities have problems or questions regarding the KDADS process for ordering PPE, contact KDADS.reopening@ks.gov.
Clarification on PPE Portal Funding
We’ve heard from one member with NF, AL and IL that their County Emergency Management Director informed them that they were not eligible for funding of PPE through the state portal. Clarification: Such an organization has funds allocated for their assisted living residence at a rate of $575/AL bed.
LEADINGAGE KANSAS NEWS
Join Us for Our Weekly Webinar This Friday
Here is the link to register for the October 16th Weekly Webinar.
Have a topic recommendation or an idea for a poll? Let us know.
Visitation and Testing Webinars Coming
We are working together with the other LTC Associations and state agencies to provide a webinar on visitation and another one on testing as soon as they can be arranged. Stay tuned.
FEDERAL NEWS
HUD Postpones New CNA eTool Launch
HUD has postponed the launch for version 3.0 of the Capital Needs Assessment (CNA) e-Tool until November 9th. Originally slated for October 13th, the CNA e-Tool team observed issues with the tool during final confirmation testing and will release a fix prior to the launch. The data transfer period has been extended to November 6th.
LEADINGAGE NEWS
Communicating About COVID-19
As the COVID-19 pandemic grows, it has been crucial that members maintain transparent communication about positive cases with staff, residents, and families. We created templates, draft statements, messages and a full set of COVID Crisis Communications Tools, including a QuickCast on Media Relations Amid COVID-19, and advice and talking points for Responding to Negative Narratives. We’re also offering a session at the 2020 Annual Meeting, “PR Lessons from COVID-19: Where Do We Go from Here?” Check out the entire educational program and register for the meeting to join us.
Other Important Information From LAN
