Updates from Aug. 30th DOH-Nursing Home Association Call
The Department of Health (DOH) convened a call with the nursing home associations on Aug. 30th and conveyed the following key messages:
- Vaccine Survey: On Aug. 31st, DOH will release a brief, one-time survey to be completed by close of business regarding the status of facility relationships with pharmacies and other partners for COVID-19 booster shots and plans for administering flu shots. Staff with Health Commerce System (HCS) Administrator, Director of Nursing Services (DNS), and Infection Preventionist roles will have access to the survey. Please keep an eye out for the survey and try to ensure that someone in your facility is able to respond. DOH will be issuing a Dear Administrator Letter (DAL) on booster shots shortly, to be followed by a second DAL once additional federal guidance is available.
- Nursing Home PPE Stockpile Requirements: The recently adopted emergency regulation requires nursing homes to be in compliance by Aug. 31st with the 60-day personal protective equipment (PPE) stockpile requirements using the new methodology for calculating need. DOH has been monitoring Health Emergency Response Data System (HERDS) reports and believes that most nursing homes are in compliance, but that some facilities are making mistakes in their data entry. We know how burdensome these surveys are, but please be sure that PPE figures are entered accurately in order to avoid citations.
- BinaxNOW Cards for Nursing Homes:
- The Aug. 31st testing survey will include a new question regarding facility needs for BinaxNOW cards for routine rapid testing purposes. Based on the facility’s response, the facility will receive additional cards. Mike Ryan, from DOH’s Wadsworth Labs, reassured the associations that, notwithstanding what is being reported in the news about shortages of BinaxNOW cards, DOH expects to continue distributing the cards for the foreseeable future. If facilities are experiencing an outbreak and need additional cards beyond their routine needs, please notify DOH, and additional cards will be supplied.
- If your facility has received PCR test kits that it has not ordered or does not need, please contact Karen Lipson for information about how to send them back to DOH.
- Nursing Home TNA to CNA Transition: As noted in last week’s Intelligence, DOH has released a DAL and accompanying documentation to provide an abbreviated training program for temporary nurse aides (TNAs) seeking to transition to certified nurse aides (CNAs). Facilities must submit a letter to DOH seeking approval to offer the program and will receive an approval letter and a Prometric training program code. All TNAs will have to transition to CNAs within four months of the end of the federal public health emergency (PHE). Facilities do not have to have an approved traditional Nurse Aide Training Program (NATP) in order to offer this transition program. However, facilities that are barred from offering an NATP under Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) rules are not permitted to offer a transition program. DOH indicated that this was a CMS decision and that they will assist facilities in seeking waivers of the ban; they are not optimistic that these will be granted by CMS.
Contact: Karen Lipson, klipson@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8383 ext. 124