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Archive November 2021
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Template COVID Vaccine Policy/Procedure
- By: Danielle Watford
- On: 11/29/2021 15:05:06
- In: COVID-19
To help providers comply with this requirement, AHCA has developed a template policy and procedures on the COVID-19 vaccination mandate. AHCA will also host member-only Office Hours on Friday, December 3 at 2 PM ET with AHCA/NCAL Chief Medical Officer Dr. David Gifford and Vice President of Quality and Programs Courtney Bishnoi to discuss the latest available information about the IRF and answer questions. Registration is required and limited.
Additionally, a recording of the AHCA member-only webinar on implementing religious and medical exemptions is now available. CMS has recently updated its Frequently Asked Questions on the IRF, which AHCA recommends providers review.
Staff Contact: dwatford@mehca.org
DLC Memo: Staffing Ratio Waiver Request
- By: Danielle Watford
- On: 11/21/2021 14:12:59
- In: State Agency News
As a condition of consideration, during the time of such a conditional waiver the facility must submit a weekly report indicating the number of admissions and from which hospital they were admitted. MHCA has created a template request letter for homes to use when requesting such a waiver. Please note that this waiver is only relevant to the State based staff-to-resident ratio rule and does not waive the requirement for compliance with the federal CMS Conditions of Participation.
Staff Contact: dwatford@mehca.org
COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate Update
- By: Angela Westhoff
- On: 11/18/2021 14:04:27
- In: COVID-19
The implementation dates for this rule are as follows:
- Phase 1 – December 6, 2021: Staff must have received at least the first dose of a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine or a one-dose COVID-19 vaccine.
- Phase 2 – January , 2022: Staff must be fully vaccinated, except staff who have been granted exemptions, or those whom COVID-19 vaccination must be temporarily delayed as recommended by the CDC due to clinical precautions and considerations.
Who does it apply to?
The CMS rule applies to Medicare and Medicaid certified facilities, such as nursing homes, hospitals, dialysis facilities, ambulatory surgical settings and home health agencies. CMS clarified the rule (federal mandate) does not apply to assisted living.
However, in Maine the vaccine requirement applies to all designated health care facilities: including licensed nursing facilities, residential care facility, ICD-IDD facilities, multi-level facilities, hospitals and home health agencies subject to licensure by the State of Maine, Department of Health and Human Services Division of Licensing and Certification.
There have been lawsuits filed in several districts challenging CMS’ authority and specifically the pathway for how the interim final rule was implemented. MHCA will update members as appropriate.
Staff contact: awesthoff@mehca.org
OSHA Vaccination Rule for Large Employers on Hold
- By: Angela Westhoff
- On: 11/18/2021 14:00:25
- In: COVID-19
In a previous statement from the White House and OSHA, any US company that employed more than 100 people was going to need to have their workforce vaccinated by January 4th or test for COVID-19 on a weekly basis. A summary of the OSHA ETS can be found here.
If implemented, the OSHA rule would cover more than 84 million employees or about 2/34 of the US workforce. The White House is encouraging all workers and businesses to continue to follow the guidance and vaccinate employee even with the legal challenge.
Staff contact: awesthoff@mehca.org
AHCA Documentary: “Closed Doors, Open Hearts: Nursing Homes and COVID-19”
- By: Nadine Grosso
- On: 11/18/2021 13:50:27
- In: National Affiliate News
The film was produced by the Association in 2021 to bring public attention to the many challenges for long term care residents and families, as well as the heroes that fought to keep residents safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.
It provides an intimate look at the day-to-day reality of the COVID-19 pandemic in two long term care facilities. Ararat Nursing Facility is a non-profit organization founded in 1949 that operates three residential care and nursing facilities on two campuses in Los Angeles and serves as a cultural center for the Armenian community. The Edgewood Centre is a family-owned, 150-bed senior care and rehab facility in Portsmouth, New Hampshire with the mission to provide resident-driven care.
These two providers are different in many ways – from geography to the sheer facility size – but they shared many of the same experiences throughout the course of the pandemic. Despite repeated requests for assistance, long term care residents and staff were not made a priority by public health agencies. Like many providers across the country, Ararat and Edgewood were forced to cope with inadequate and delayed access to testing and a national shortage of personal protective equipment. Yet, facing incredible obstacles, staff continued to care for residents when they were needed most.
“Closed Doors, Open Hearts: Nursing Homes and COVID-19” has a running time of approximately 26 minutes and can be viewed here.
You are encouraged to watch the film and share it with residents, families, staff, the community, and local media. AHCA has developed a toolkit to help with media outreach, social media sharing, potential screenings/events, and other communications efforts.
This film is an important part of helping others from outside the profession understand what long term care has truly experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic and the continued support that is necessary. Please reach out to AHCA with any questions.
Staff contact: ngrosso@mehca.org
Next Week's MHCA Office & E-News Schedule
- By: Dianne Chicoine
- On: 11/18/2021 13:40:11
- In: Announcements/Reminders
Staff contact: dchicoine@mehca.org
AHCA Resilience in Recovery webinar
- By: Nadine Grosso
- On: 11/18/2021 12:32:08
- In: COVID-19
Our fight against COVID-19 is not over. We must create environments and facilitate behaviors to disrupt the epidemiological transition of this virus and protect our most vulnerable population. On Monday, November 22, join industry leaders and professionals to explore how to prevent your next outbreak by leveraging proactive data integration and technology solutions. World-renowned medical expert and immunologist Dr. Deborah Birx will lead the conversation to explore where we currently stand against the Delta variant and discuss preventative testing and data solutions to keep your facility safe during this upcoming winter.
- What: Resilience in Recovery. Prioritize. Prevent. Protect. Webinar
- When: Monday, November 22, 2021, at 12 (noon) ET
Staff contact: ngrosso@mehca.org
CMS releases changes to the COVID-19 survey activities and increased NH oversight
- By: Nadine Grosso
- On: 11/18/2021 12:27:16
- In: Quality/Regulatory
- Revising criteria for conducting Focused Infection Control (FIC) surveys;
- Guidance for resuming recertification surveys; and
- Temporary guidance and monitor flexibilities related to complaint investigations.
- CMS is no longer requiring a FIC survey to be conducted within three to five days of a nursing home having three or more new COVID-19 confirmed cases or one confirmed resident case in a facility that was previously COVID-19-free.
- Each survey agency must continue to perform annual FIC surveys of at least 20 percent of nursing homes.
- Prioritization of these surveys should be made to those facilities reporting new cases and low vaccination rates.
- SAs should be able to resume recertification surveys on regular basis by establishing new intervals based on each facility’s next survey, not based on the last survey that was conducted prior to COVID-19 public health emergency.
- SAs should prioritize recertification surveys according to the potential risk to residents such as facilities with history of noncompliance, or allegations of noncompliance (abuse/neglect, infection control, violations of transfer or discharge requirements, insufficient staffing or competency, special focused facilities and/or SFF candidates, and other quality-of-care issues such as falls and/or pressures, etc.)
- CMS is temporarily allowing certain mandatory survey protocol tasks to be discretionary or triggered based on concerns identified during offsite preparation activities such as complaints to be investigated during the survey, or those that raise to ombudsman, and pervious patters of citations.
- Mandatory survey tasks eligible for temporary discretion include Resident Council Meeting, Dining Observation Task, and Medication storage.
- SAs must utilize the efficiencies built into the long term care survey process software application to investigate complaints with the recertification survey.
- SAs to investigate the backlog of complaints/FRIs according to level of triage and would remain in effect only until States are able to clear any backlogs and resume routine operations.
- LTC Complaints and FRIs triaged as IJ or non-IJ High are required to be investigated as soon as possible.
- LTC Complaints and FRIs triaged as non-IJ Medium may be investigated at next scheduled standard survey if received within one year of the scheduled standard survey date or if the allegation involves staff to resident abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of resident property, regardless of the date received.
- LTC Complaints and FRIs triaged as non-IJ Low – SAs are not required to investigate backlogged complaints/FRIs at this level and may be closed in ACTS at the next standard survey.
- Surveying for nurse competency: Ensure temporary nurse aides are competent to perform skills and techniques necessary to care for residents’ needs.
- CMS is alerting SAs to pay attention to compliance with the requirements for nursing services regarding sufficient nursing staff with appropriate competencies and skills sets to provide nursing and related services.
- SAs continue to focus on efforts of identifying inappropriate use of antipsychotic medications and emphasis on non-pharmacological approaches and person-centered care practices.
- SAs are assessing other care areas.
COVID-19 vaccine boosters available to all Maine adults; Notify MHCA if your facility needs a clinic
- By: Nadine Grosso
- On: 11/18/2021 12:21:04
- In: COVID-19
Effective immediately, people ages 18 and over may receive a booster shot in Maine if:
- They completed the two-dose Pfizer or Moderna vaccine series at least six months ago; OR
- They received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine at least two months ago.
Staff contact: ngrosso@mehca.org
Maine Releases FINAL Rule for Chapter 264: Immunization Requirements for Healthcare Workers
- By: Danielle Watford
- On: 11/18/2021 09:52:39
- In: COVID-19
MHCA strongly encourages all members to carefully read through the final rule. We will be providing a synopsis of this document shortly. Many of the revisions will not change the processes/policies developed by your homes following the emergency rule release.
Staff Contact: dwatford@mehca.org