Aug. 9th 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 Aug. 8th, 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 or would like the access information, please contact Jeff Diamond.
Nursing Home and Adult Care Facility (ACF)/Assisted Living (AL) Updates
LeadingAge NY Comments on COVID-19 Vaccination Offer Regulation
LeadingAge NY called for greater clarity, elimination of duplicative regulations, and proportionality of penalties in its recent comments on the proposed regulation requiring nursing homes and ACFs to offer or arrange for COVID-19 vaccinations for residents and staff. Click here for more information.
Nursing Home Requirements of Participation and the Role of the Infection Preventionist
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is providing guidance for nursing homes and surveyors to implement the Phase 3 Requirements of Participation (RoPs), including guidance related to the requirement for all facilities to have an Infection Preventionist (IP), which has been underscored by the COVID-19 pandemic. Click here for more information.
Community Transmission Rates Remain Volatile
Despite lower COVID-19 County Transmission rates remaining elusive for a long period of time, nursing homes should continue checking them on a regular weekly or once-every-two-week basis. Along with the map that color-codes each county, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Transmission Rates used by health care facilities are posted in database form by the CDC here. Along with the county map, LeadingAge NY has reverted to posting a county listing showing the color code for each New York State county for the most recent Monday, as well as the prior two Mondays, here. Also available is a listing of county color codes for each Monday back to April 2022.