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Archive December 2021
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State Workforce Survey & Marketing Campaign
- By: Angela Westhoff
- On: 12/30/2021 10:42:54
- In: State Agency News
To inform this campaign, the State of Maine's marketing agency partner (Pulse Marketing) has put together a brief survey to learn more about the motivations, challenges and aspirations of current direct care workers as well as those who may be interested but not yet connected to the field.
The survey takes about 10 minutes to complete and all results are anonymous. Thank you. Please feel free to share the excerpt below with colleagues and friends.
Interested in direct care or behavioral health work or entering the healthcare field? Looking for a career change and considering a shift to more meaningful work? Currently working in the direct care or behavioral health field?
Take this 10 minute survey to share more about what you’re looking for in your job, your career challenges and motivations, and your career aspirations. Your feedback will be completely anonymous and help strengthen Maine’s direct care & behavioral health workforce.
Survey translations available in: Français (French); Español (Spanish); Português (Portuguese); Soomaali (Somali); ???? (Arabic)
Staff contact: awesthoff@mehca.org
Increased Payment Rates for Long Term Care Facilities & Restoration of the SWA
- By: Angela Westhoff
- On: 12/30/2021 09:37:06
- In: Legislative/Government Affairs
As part of the biennial budget to increase pay for direct care worker to at least 125% of the state’s minimum wage, the legislature passed the minimum wage increase in a bipartisan effort to address the work force shortage. The implementation date of the increased minimum wage was slated to begin on January 1, 2022. DHHS had planned to delay implementation of the rate increase to nursing homes and residential care facilities until July. MHCA continued to advocate and seek clarity on implementation of the legislation. The Governor has now directed the Department to utilize $4.5 million of already appropriated funding to begin the increased payments on January 1, 2022 in line with the legislative intent.
Further, the Governor announced she is proposing in her forthcoming supplemental budget an additional $7.6 million to restore the supplemental wage allowance to assist nursing homes and residential care facilities with increased labor costs through the remainder of Fiscal Year 2022 (January 1- June 30, 2022).
“Today's announcement is welcome news as Maine's long-term care facilities continue the fight against COVID-19,” said Angela Westhoff, President and CEO of the Maine Health Care Association. “MHCA appreciates the Mills Administration's plan to expedite financial support to providers and their staff. Not only does it align with legislative intent, but it also reaffirms our collective commitment to supporting our dedicated staff who have logged many long hours during this pandemic caring for Maine’s most vulnerable citizens.”
Finally, the Mills Administration also announced that the Department will waive the minimum occupancy penalty on nursing homes that are experiencing low occupancy rates.
To read the full announcement click here.
Staff contact: awesthoff@mehca.org
Update on Phase 4 Provider Relief Fund and ARP Rural Payments
- By: Angela Westhoff
- On: 12/30/2021 09:36:25
- In: COVID-19
A total of 315 Maine providers (across multiple health care sectors) received Phase 4 funding totaling $60,691,173. For rural funding, there were 314 providers who received a total of $129,052,464.
Reporting Period 2 begins on January 1, 2022 and the extended Reporting Period 1 ended on December 20, 2021. No additional Reporting Period 1 extensions will be offered. Due to technical difficulties during the Reporting Period 1 dates, HRSA urges providers to submit as soon as possible.
Phase 3 reconsiderations are taking longer than expected- over 4,500 were submitted. HRSA expects to complete the review of reconsiderations between January and March 2022. Rural and Phase IV Reconsideration is expected to launch in February.
At HRSA’s request all questions should be directed to their Support Line at 1-866-569-3522.
For more information on HRSA PRF funding updates, please review AHCA/ NCAL summary document here.
Staff contact: awesthoff@mehca.org
CMS Releases Surveyor Guidance on LTC Vaccine Mandate
- By: Danielle Watford
- On: 12/29/2021 17:14:58
- In: COVID-19
The guidance only applies in 25 states where a federal judge earlier this month lifted a temporary injunction that had blocked the Nov. 5 vaccination rule from taking effect. The following jurisdictions are not covered by any court-ordered injunctions: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia. Meaning this memo is relevant to Maine providers.
In this Dec. 28 memo, CMS said surveyors would begin enforcement within 30 days. Among key details: Any facility with a staff vaccination rate at that time above 80% with a specific plan to achieve a 100% rate within 60 days would not be subject to additional enforcement action. At the 60-day mark, a facility above 90% with a plan to achieve a 100% staff vaccination rate within an additional 30 days would not be subject to additional enforcement action.
CMS said facilities would be considered compliant if policies and procedures are developed and implemented for ensuring all staff are vaccinated for COVID-19; and 100% of staff have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, or have a pending request for, or have been granted qualifying exemption, or identified as having a temporary delay as recommended by the CDC.
The agency said anything less than at least one shot for 100% of staff (not counting a pending or granted exemption or CDC-recommended temporary delay) would count as non-compliant. Those facilities will receive notice of their non-compliance with the 100% standard, but CMS said those in the 80% to 99% range would receive some relief if they continued to pursue vaccination plans.
Staff Contact: dwatford@mehca.org
AHCA releases updated information on Boosters and recorded townhall with U.S. DHHS
- By: Danielle Watford
- On: 12/28/2021 14:12:20
- In: COVID-19
AHCA/NCAL has also updated its handout on the importance of boosters based on the latest data considering the rapid spread of the Omicron variant. This handout, as well as other resources, is available on the #GetVaccinated website.
Staff Contact: dwatford@mehca.org
LTC Townhall with HHS Sec. Xavier Becerra on Omicron/Boosters: Co-sponsored by AHCA/NCAL
- By: Danielle Watford
- On: 12/28/2021 14:01:46
- In: COVID-19
Co-sponsored by AHCA/NCAL, LeadingAge, & Service Employees International Union
Thursday, December 30, 2021
11:00 am Eastern
The Omicron variant of COVID-19 is spreading quickly. Thankfully, we know vaccinations and especially boosters can increase the level of protection significantly. Increasing protection in our most vulnerable citizens with vaccinations and boosters is a top priority for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
To learn more about what you can do to protect yourselves and your residents, we invite you to join HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra and other Senior COVID-19 Response Leaders for a Virtual Town Hall – co-sponsored by AHCA/NCAL, LeadingAge, and SEIU – to discuss the latest news on the Omicron variant of COVID-19 and the impact of boosters for residents and staff.
The Virtual Town Hall will be held on Thursday, December 30th at 11:00 AM ET. When it’s time, please join the Virtual Town Hall at: HHS.gov/Live
Staff Contact: dwatford@mehca.org
OSHA Withdraws Healthcare ETS
- By: Danielle Watford
- On: 12/28/2021 13:57:29
- In: COVID-19
OSHA intends to issue a final standard in the coming months that will incorporate much of the June ETS. Meanwhile OSHA strongly encourages all health care employers to continue to implement the ETS’s requirements and notes they will continue enforcement of COVID safety standards through the general duty clause. For details on the June ETS, see AHCA/NCAL’s summary.
Due to the withdrawal of the June healthcare ETS, health care employers, including all assisted living, nursing or other long term care providers, are now subject to OSHA’s vaccine mandate ETS. At this time the vaccine mandate ETS is effective, with a January 7, 2022 hearing before the United States Supreme Court. The OSHA vaccine mandate would apply to those providers also covered by CMS’s vaccine mandate interim final rule, should the government prevail and the IFR be implemented. The CMS IFR is not being enforced pending a hearing before the U.S. Supreme Court, also set for January 7, 2022.
The OSHA vaccine ETS includes an option for testing unvaccinated employees (the CMS IFR does not). OSHA will not issue citations for noncompliance with any requirements of the ETS before January 10 and will not issue citations for noncompliance with the testing requirements before February 9, so long as an employer is exercising reasonable, good faith efforts to come into compliance with the standard. OSHA notes that it plans to work closely with employers to provide compliance assistance.
MHCA will continue to provide updates on these requirements. Please watch for an announcement of educational information on OSHA’s vaccine and testing requirement from AHCA/NCAL in the coming weeks.
Staff Contact: dwatford@mehca.org
CDC Updates Return to Work Guidance
- By: Danielle Watford
- On: 12/28/2021 13:44:52
- In: COVID-19
The following guidance should continue to be used to determine duration of isolation and quarantine for patients and residents.
- Infection Control: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) | CDC
- Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations to Prevent SARS-CoV-2 Spread in Nursing Homes | CDC
The new criteria are as follows:
Return to Work After COVID-19 Infection
The CDC now indicates that health care workers who have tested positive for COVID-19 can return to work depending on the severity of their COVID-19 infection, but should monitor for symptoms after returning to work and seek testing, should symptoms develop. Also, Antigen testing is preferred for symptomatic health care personnel (HCP) and for asymptomatic HCP who have recovered from COVID-19 infection in the prior 90 days.
For contingency and crises staffing situations shorter time frames can be used (see CDC site for contingency and crisis staffing).
For conventional staffing, HCP who were asymptomatic throughout their infection and are not moderately to severely immunocompromised:
- Return to work after 7 days with a negative antigen or PCR test within 48 hours prior to returning to work.
- Or 10 days if testing is not performed or a positive test at day 5-7 since the date of their first positive viral test.
- Return to work after 7 days with a negative antigen or PCR test within 48 hours prior to returning to work
- Or 10 days if testing is not performed or if a positive test at day 5-7 since symptoms first appeared; and
- At least 24 hours have passed since last fever without the use of fever-reducing medications; and
- Symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath) have improved.
- In general, when 20 days have passed since symptoms first appeared; and
- At least 24 hours have passed since last fever without the use of fever-reducing medications; and
- Symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath) have improved.
Use of a test-based strategy (2 negative tests 24 hours apart after symptom resolution) and consultation with an infectious disease specialist or other expert such as occupational health specialist is recommended to determine when these HCP may return to work.
Return to Work After Higher-Risk Exposure
HCP who have received all COVID-19 vaccine doses, including booster dose, as recommended by CDC; do not require work restriction unless they develop symptoms and test positive:
- They must test as soon as possible after 24 hours from exposure and 5-7 days after exposure.
- Continue to use source control masks and PPE as recommended by CDC (no change)
- With a negative test 48 hours before returning to work; and
- HCP did not develop symptoms
No work restrictions regardless of vaccination status but must continue to use source control masks and PPE per CDC recommendations. (no change)
The Low or High-Risk Exposure Definition is defined as:
- Being within 6 feet of a person with confirmed COVID-19 infection; OR
- Having unprotected direct contact with infectious secretions or excretions of the person with confirmed COVID-19 infection.
- Exposure of HCP's eyes, nose, or mouth to material potentially containing COVID-19, particularly if these HCP were present in the room for an aerosol-generating procedure
- Prolonged contact >15 min with a person infected with COVID-19 (resident, visitor, or co-worker), especially if they were not using a source control mask or if the HCP was not using appropriate PPE during the encounter.
- Having body contact with the patient (e.g., rolling the patient) without gown or gloves, may impart some risk for transmission, particularly if hand hygiene is not performed and HCP then touch their eyes, nose, or mouth.
We strongly encourage providers to continue to strictly follow all other infection prevention and control practices, such as the use of PPE, source control masks and social distancing. Providers should review the CDC guidance on Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations in Nursing Homes for more information. The new CDC guidance does not necessarily supersede local or state guidance nor OHSA guidance.
Boosters Recommended by January 1, 2022
Finally, residents and staff should aim to receive their boosters by January 1, 2022. The Omicron variant continues to rapidly spread across the U.S., and data continues to show the effective?ness of boosters in fighting this new variant. The urgency to get long term care residents and staff a booster has never been greater.
CDC is working on updating this guidance in the coming days to more closely align with the new return to work guidance for health care personnel.
Staff Contact: dwatford@mehca.org
Maine DHHS/CDC releases mAb toolbox
- By: Danielle Watford
- On: 12/23/2021 10:11:34
- In: COVID-19
In response to advocacy efforts by MHCA on behalf of member homes Maine DHHS and CDC has released a toolkit to assist in administration of monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapies in congregate care facilities – i.e. LTC, ALFs, grp homes. The following are components of this introductory “Toolbox” for facilities to use when identifying residents eligible for such treatment. Included in the toolkit are:
2. List of relevant mAb providers for facilities
3. Eligibility “checklist” to help identify individuals appropriate for mAb therapies
4. Template info letter that facilities could send residents/families ahead of a COVID outbreak
5. FAQ/talking points on mAb therapies
As noted in the intro sheet, DHHS and Maine CDC expects that the indications and options for mAb therapies may change significantly in the coming weeks with the emergence of the omicron variant, but DHHS has committed to updating this toolbox as new information becomes available.
As the holidays approach we sincerely thank you for all you do and continue to do as this global pandemic drags on. In the words of the Grateful Dead, what a long strange trip it's been. We are here if you need support. Don't hesitate to reach out with questions, concerns or comments.
Staff Contact: dwatford@mehca.org
Maine Health Care Association CEO Message
- By: Angela Westhoff
- On: 12/16/2021 10:15:16
- In: Announcements/Reminders
When I started back in June, it seemed like the worst of COVID was behind us. Little did we know that the Delta variant would soon arrive, and COVID-19 positive cases would reach numbers higher than what had ever been previously recorded in Maine.
Public health officials across the country are predicting a very concerning Omicron surge post holidays. Media reports over the past few days, as well as newly released scientific research, has provided evidence that Omicron is more contagious than any previous version of the COVID-19 virus. But the good news is that vaccines appear to provide strong protection against severe illness and mortality. While the new strain has not spread widely yet in the United States, AHCA/NCAL is urging us all to prepare. Omicron is not as deadly as Delta, yet it still will likely create major problems in the long term care sector.
Booster shots will be important in the ongoing efforts to protect staff and residents. If you haven’t held your booster shot clinic yet and need assistance, please reach out to us so that we can assist you.
Finally, I want to express my personal gratitude and deep appreciation to all of you, the MHCA staff, and board members for welcoming me to the association. As we move ahead into 2022 together, there is hope that there are brighter days to come! Best wishes for a happy and healthy holiday season!
Sincerely,
Angela Cole Westhoff
President/ CEO
Staff contact: awesthoff@mehca.org