LeadingAge NY Raises Concerns with Public Health and Health Planning Council
LeadingAge NY submitted comments this week on COVID-19-related regulations that will be discussed at the June 3rd meetings of the Public Health and Health Planning Council (PHHPC) and its Committee on Codes and Regulations. The PHHPC will be discussing a variety of regulations pertaining to COVID-19 response that were promulgated on an emergency basis and will ultimately have to be formally adopted by the PHHPC at the conclusion of the public health emergency. LeadingAge NY’s comments focus on the regulations governing the personal protective equipment (PPE) stockpile required of nursing homes and the regulations requiring nursing homes and ACFs to offer staff and residents an opportunity to be vaccinated within 14 days of hiring or admission. In addition to commenting on the regulations, LeadingAge NY asked the PHHPC to examine the discrepancies between Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and Department of Health (DOH) guidance related to visitation, social distancing, and serial staff testing. With widespread vaccination among residents of nursing homes and ACFs, LeadingAge NY is asking the State to align with CMS and allow residents and staff to experience the benefits of vaccination, like their peers in other settings.