June 14th COVID-19 Update
New COVID-19-related updates for providers of long-term/post-acute care (LTPAC) and senior services continue to be shared on a regular basis by both state and federal authorities. The latest developments are described below.
As a reminder, LeadingAge NY continues to convene weekly webinars on Mondays at 11 a.m. to address emerging questions on COVID-19. A recording of our most recent webinar, held on June 13th, is available here, and a list of the items shared by LeadingAge NY staff in the webinar chat can be accessed here. If you have questions for next week’s update, which will be held on Tues., June 21st at 11 a.m. due to the observance of Juneteenth, or would like the access information, please contact Jeff Diamond.
Nursing Home and Adult Care Facility (ACF)/Assisted Living (AL) Updates
DOH Solicits Comments on Nursing Home PPE Stockpile and Nursing Home/ACF Vaccination Arrangement Regs for Permanent Adoption
The Department of Health (DOH) has published two regulations, previously adopted on an emergency basis in response to COVID-19, with the goal of seeking their permanent adoption. The regulations, requiring (i) nursing homes and hospitals to maintain personal protective equipment (PPE) stockpiles, and (ii) nursing homes and ACFs to offer or arrange for COVID-19 vaccinations of residents and staff, are open for public comment until July 7th. Click here for more information.
CDC Holds Training on Event-Level Vaccination Data Form
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently held an additional training session focused on the Event-Level Vaccination Data Form, a tool to make weekly COVID-19 resident and staff vaccination information less cumbersome to aggregate and report. The National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) weekly COVID-19 vaccination reporting page includes slides from the training session, and the training notes issued by NHSN can be found here.
“Up to Date” Definitions
Much confusion remains around the definition and uses of the term “up to date.” Currently, nursing homes are following two separate definitions for nursing home operations and NHSN reporting. Click here for more information from LeadingAge National on these definitions, why they differ, and when to apply each.
New Admission Quarantine and Testing Reminder
On Feb. 2nd, the CDC updated its Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations to Prevent SARS-CoV-2 Spread in Nursing Homes to include recommendations for new admissions and readmissions or those residents who leave the facility for a period of time greater than 24 hours. The CDC’s recommendations are provided here.
DOH Provides Clarification on Paid Feeding Assistant Waiver Expiration
LeadingAge NY has received clarification from DOH on the expiration of the federal Paid Feeding Assistant Program waiver. DOH advised us that any facility that wishes to continue using a Paid Feeding Assistant Program would need to implement the required 15 hours of training. In addition, any facility that was allowed to have a Paid Feeding Assistant Program under the federal waiver should send a letter to the Department, as explained on page 5 of the DOH curriculum manual.
For your reference, the DOH curriculum manual and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Paid Feeding Assistant training are provided here and here.
Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Updates
DOH to Hold Webinar on Recently Approved Changes to NHTD/TBI Appendix K Waiver Providing Additional ARPA Funding
DOH recently provided the following communication by email:
On May 13, 2022 the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) approved additional changes to the previously approved Appendix K. The approved Appendix K is effective from March 1, 2020 through six months after the end of the Public Health Emergency (PHE) for COVID-19. These approved changes provide for a modification of the nursing visit rate, a temporary rate increase for structured day programs providing face to face services throughout the pandemic, training stipends for providers and workforce stability stipends for direct care staff.
NYSDOH has identified its intent to use money realized from Section 9817 of the American Rescue Plan (ARP) to support these initiatives. As a waiver service provider who will benefit from these incentives, your attendance at the meeting is imperative. This webinar will provide basic information about how to begin planning for these incentives so that you will be able to take advantage of all available funding opportunities. This will be the first in a series of meetings, and instructions on how to begin your requests for funding will be discussed.
Appendix K it is available at:
https://www.health.ny.gov/health_care/medicaid/redesign/mrt90/2022/docs/2022-05-13_appendix_k.pdf
Time will be allotted to address questions. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.
This first webinar will be held on June 16, 2022 from 10AM-11:30AM. Please register for the webinar through this link: https://meetny.webex.com/meetny/onstage/g.php?MTID=ef29d0180adb717313a23856731f817c7
Members providing waiver services should make every effort to attend the webinar.