Coronavirus Updates & Resources
Visit this website daily for the latest information that MHCA has to share about COVID-19. As concerns arise with the emerging coronavirus, officially named COVID-19, we are working with our state partners, including the Maine Centers for Disease Control and the Maine Department of Health and Human Services to ensure our member nursing homes and assisted living facilities receive necessary guidance to prevent the spread of this disease.
MHCA Created Resources
- MHCA Example Testing Policy
- COVID-19 Positive Return to Work Guidance
- Sample Respiratory Protection Plan
- Hand Hygiene Competency
- Basic Infection Prevention Strategies during PPE Shortages
- Top Tens Things to do Once You have a Positive COVID Case
- PPE Optimization During Crisis Levels
- Essential Worker Template Letter
- Five things Your MDS Coordinators Should Know
- MEMA District Liaison Contacts for PPE Requests
- Sample Family Letter-In House Confirmed Case
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Obtaining PPE
- AHCA/NCAL PPE Supplier List (MHCA' group purchasing vendors highlighted in green boxes) (10/22/20)
- MHCA List of Non-FDA Alternative PPE Suppliers (Updated 06/01/20)
- MHCABS GPO Partner Provista/Vizient PPE supply vendors: AMD-Medicom (MS4144 - gowns), ASP Global (MS9070 - face shields, gowns), Encompass Group (MS4145 - gowns), Grainger (recovery kits, hand sanitizer, disinfectant, temperature pass management module & face recognition), Hanes (MS7181 - cloth masks), HR Pharmaceutical (MS5900 - portable handsanitizer), O&M Halyard, Inc. (MS4142 - gowns), PlatinumCode Tourniquet (MS8442 - nitrile gloves), Standard Textile (MS4560 - reusable isolation gowns and masks), Strategic Lab Partners (LB0880 - swabs, transport media and collection kits), Tomahawk/Wildcat (MS9290 - disposable isolation gowns), Tronex International (MS4143 - gowns). For more information about our group purchasing program, or if you need your Provista/Vizient member ID (MID), please contact Dianne Chicoine, Director of Business & Information Services Email: dchicoine@mehca.org Tel: 207.623.1146, ext. 201.
Proper Use of PPE
- Emory University PDF for proper storage of N95 masks
- Emory University signage getting the most our of N95 masks
- Additional Emory University School of Medicine PDFs for every COVID PPE scenario
- KN95 mask details with link to the CDC on K N95 masks, not NIOSH approved. *Most have ear loops, which make it impossible to achieve an appropriate fit.
- List of Maine Fire Stations Providing Fit Testing
- OSHA Respiratory Physical Exam Questionnaire
- Maine DLC PPE Guidance
- CDC Cloth Face Cover Guidance
- USM No Cost PPE Training (04/10/20)
- Strategies to Optimize PPE
- NIOSH-Approved Respirators
- CDC Guidance for Extended Use and Limited Reuse of N95 respirators in health care settings
- CDC Informational Videos on Proper PPE Usage
- Free N-95 Respirator Education for Direct Care (03/16/20)
Testing Resources
- Covid Testing Vendors
- FAQ HETL eTOR and Submission of Covid-19 v.1.1
- HETL Lab Web Portal (LWP) Quick Start Guide v.4
- AHCA/NCAL List of COVID-19 Testing Vendors for LTC (12/07/20)
- MHCA Testing Protocol Example Plan (Revised 9/10/20)
Vaccinations
- CDC COVID Vaccine Updates on Allergic Rxns and Analphylaxsis (12/30/20)
- MHCA Vaccination Update (12/21/20)
- CDC Communication Toolkit
- AMDA Example Letter to Residents and Families (Word file)
- AMDA Covid-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Medical Director Version (Powerpoint file)
- AMDA Covid-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Staff Version (Powerpoint file)
- AMDA QA Covid-19 Vaccine for PALTC
- AMDA Improving Staff Resident Confidence in Covid-19 Vaccine
- Vaccine Information
- Answering Patients’ Vaccine Questions
- COVID-19 Vaccination Program Operational Guidance
- Healthcare Professionals: Preparing for COVID-19 Vaccination
- Pfizer Vaccine EUA Fact Sheet
- Walgreens Support Documents: Facility Tip Sheet and Resident Handout: What to Expect (English/Spanish)
- Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) Presentation Slides: December 2020 Meeting
Maine DHHS Guidance
- Maine DLC revised LTC COVID-19 Staffing Guidance (12/08/20)
- Covid-19 Healthcare Risk Reduction Checklist (11/17/20)
- LTC Covid-19 Self Assessment (11/17/20)
- Memo to Nursing Facilities (11/17/20)
- County Positive Rate Data (CMS)
- Maine DHHS Nursing Facility Covid-19 Testing and Gradual Reopening Guidance (08/07/2020)
- Maine DHHS/CDC LTC Med Directors Call Q&A (04/28/20)
- Maine DLC Staffing/Non Nursing Personnel Guidance (04/28/20)
Survey Resources
- Steps to Prepare for Your HETL Testing
- HETL Lab Web Portal Quick Start Guide Version 3
- Email to coordinate staff testing through Maine HETL Lab: covidtesting@maine.gov
- Maine HETL COVID Swabs and Transport Media Chart
- AHCA Algorithms for Testing
- CDC Specimen Collection Chart
- ME CDC Guidance on Ordering Swabs
- OASH nasal spec fact sheet (all words)
- IDSA table with all types of swabs with instructions (written)
- Anterior Nares collection guide
CMS Surveyor Resources
- COVID-19 Focused Survey Tool
- Surveyor Training for COVID-19 IP Focused Survey
- COVID-19 Focused Survey Protocol
- COVID-19 Focused Survey Entrance Conference Worksheet
- Summary Table of COVID-19 Focused Survey
Regulatory Relief - State and National
- Maine State 1135 Blanket Waiver (04/24/20)
- CMS COVID-19 Blanket Waivers for Health Care Providers (04/23/20) (NF SNF see page 9, ICF IID see page 16)
- State Regulatory Relief (04/04/20)
Maine CDC
- Maine DHHS BinaxNOW Guidance (12/15/20)
- Exposure Investigation Checklist (12/04/20)
- Covid Case Investigators List (11/20/20)
- Maine CDC Respiratory Protection PPE FAQ (11/23/20)
- Maine CDC Covid-19 Preparedness Call for LTC Providers on November 10
- POC Reporting Guidance (11/09/20)
- Maine CDC Outdoor Visitation Guidance (06/10/20)
- Maine CDC Emergency Rulemaking-Reporting Requirements (05/12/20)
- Maine CDC Temporary Updates (04/22/20)
PPT Slides
- September 3, 2020
- August 26, 2020
- August 19, 2020
- August 12, 2020
- August 5, 2020
- July 29, 2020
- July 22, 2020
- July 15, 2020
- July 1, 2020
MHCA Daily Covid-19 Briefings
- MHCA Covid-19 Briefing: Today's Medical Director/Clinician Call, Tommorrow Covid-19 Vaccine Safety: A Fireside Chat with CMS, CDC and Front Line Staff and Providers (January 13), HHS Extends Public Health Emergency, Co-Administration of the Covid-19 Vaccine, US CDC Issues New Vaccination Social Media Messages, OSHA Required 2020 Injury and Illness Data Due March 2, HHS ASPR Launches Distribution Locations Interactive Map (01/12/21)
- MHCA Covid-19 Briefing: MaineMDA Seeks Your Feedback, New #GetVaccinated Videos Now Available, Seats Available in Next Week's Assisted Housing Infection Control Program, CMS Adds Six New Covid-19 ICD-10 Codes Effective January 1, 2021, What You Should Know: Economic Impact Payments and Representative Payees (01/07/21)
- MHCA Covid-19 Briefing: Notes from Today's CDC Call for Congregate Care Settings, DHHS Provisionally Adopts Assisted Housing Infection Control Rules, CDC Updates Guidance on mRNA Vaccines, Helpful Links on Covid-19 Vaccinations, CMS Releases Revised Criteria for Conducting Focused Infection Control Surveys and and Survey FAQs (01/05/21)
- MHCA Covid-19 Briefing: Maine CDC Covid-19 Briefing for Congregate Care on January 5 (12/31/20)
- MHCA Covid-19 Briefing: Accurately Estimating Vaccine Quantity, Tomorrow: Covid-19 Vaccine Safety: A Fireside Chat with AHCA/NCAL, CMS, and CDC, Summary of Today's CDC Medical Director/Clinician Call (12/29/20)
AHCA Communication
- AHCA/NCAL: Update - HHS Extends Public Health Emergency (01/08/21)
- AHCA/NCAL: Update - Join CMS and CDC for a Fireside Chat on COVID-19 Vaccine Safety (01/05/21)
- AHCA/NCAL: Update - COVID-19 Vaccine Safety: A Fireside Chat with AHCA/NCAL, CMS, and CDC (12/29/20)
Staffing
- FrontLine Warmline Poster - English (8.5x11) (08/06/20)
- FrontLine Warmline Poster - English (11x17) (08/06/20)
- FrontLine Warmline Poster - Multi-Language (8.5x11) (08/06/20)
- FrontLine Warmline Poster - Multi-Language (11x17) (08/06/20)
- The Return to Work for Healthcare Personnel with Confirmed or Suspected COVID-19 document provides guidance on when healthcare workers with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 can return to work, and includes options for basing this decision on test-based criteria and non-test-based criteria. There is additional guidance on what precautions these healthcare workers need to take when they return to work.
- The Discontinuation of Home Isolation for Persons with COVID-19 document provides options for basing discontinuation decisions on test-based criteria and non-test-based criteria.
Office of Child and Family Services
- Emergency Temp License Inspection Form
- Emergency Temp Child Care Application (03/16/20)
- Childcare Subsidy Program Contact List (03/2020)
- Childcare Subsidy Program Emergency Provider Memo (03/16/20)
Complimentary/Discounted Lodging for Caregivers
Maximus Assessment Communication
- Maximus Assessment Response for COVID-19 (03/19/20)
- COVID-19 OADS FAQ for LTSS and Aging (03/19/20)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- CDC Mini Web Lessons (06/29/20)
- Increased Testing Capacity (05/18/20)
- Key Strategies to Prepare for COVID-19 in Long-term Care Facilities (LTCFs) (05/05/20)
- CDC Line Listing (04/22/20)
- CDC Situation Summary
- CDC Strategies to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19 in LTC Facilities
- CDC COVID 19 Information for Healthcare Professionals
- CDC Resources for Healthcare Professionals
- Healthcare Infection Prevention and Control FAQs for COVID-19
- CDC Information for Lab Testing
- CDC Infographic: Stop the Spread of Germs (English)
- CDC Infographic: Airborne Precautions (English)
- CDC Infographic: Droplet Precautions (English)
- CDC Infographic: Symptoms of COVID (English)
- CDC Infographic: Sick with 2019 nCoV Fact Sheet (English)
- CDC Infographic: Contact Precautions (English)
- WHO Infographic:Coronavirus Disease 2019
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
- ProjectECHO FAQs (11/05/20)
- CMS Call Slides on New COVID 19 Testing and Reporting Requirements (09/09/20)
- Nursing Home Reopening Recommendations (QSO-20-30-NH, May 18, 2020)
- Nursing Home Reopening Recommendations FAQ (05/20/20)
- Interim Final Rule for Notification of Confirmed and Suspected COVID-19 Cases (05/07/20)
- QSO-20-28 Five Star, Staff Counts, and Frequently Asked Questions (04/24/2020)
- QSO-20-25-NH Long-Term Care Facility Transfer Scenarios (04/14/20)
- CMS Non-emergent Elective Medical Service (04/10/20)
- QSO-20-14 NH Guidance for Visitation (03/13/20)
- QSO-20-17 Expanded Mask Guidance (03/11/20)
- CMS Guidance Considerations for Patient Triage, Placement and Hospital Discharge (03/04/20)
- QSO-20-12-All Suspension of Survey Activities (04/02/20)
- CMS Long Term Care Infection Control Self-Assessment Tool Checklist
- COVID-19: New ICD-10-CM Code and Interim Coding Guidance
- Maine’s 211 Available For COVID-19 Questions
- Requesting a State of Emergency Waiver
- 1135 Waiver Authority
Communications/Media Relations
- COVID Notification Letter to Residents and Families (06/17/20)
- Communication Strategies to Keep Families Informed (04/22/20)
- MHCA Press Statement (04/14/20)
- Crisis Communication in an Infectious Diseases Outbreak (04/03/20)
- When COVID Gets into Your Facility (04/03/20)
- Crisis Communication Abbreviated Presentation (03/30/20)
- Infection Control Statement and Talking Points for Confirmed COVID-19 Case (03/30/20)
- Emergency Preparedness and Media Plan (03/30/20)
- Template Family Letter for Confirmed COVID-19 Case (03/23/20)
- MHCA Media Relations (03/10/20)
- AHCA Example Notice to Families (03/10/20)
- AHCA Template Letter to Employees (03/10/20)
- MHCA Sample Letter to Families (03/09/20)
Advanced Care Planning
- Resources on ACP from Respecting Choices
- Maine POLST Form
- Maine Advanced Directives Form
- Transfer Protocol for Nursing Homes MFDA
Staff Contact:
Danielle Watford
Director of Quality Improvement & Regulatory Affairs
Tel: 207.623.1146, ext. 221
MHCA Press Contact
Nadine Grosso
Vice President & Director of Communications
Tel: 207.623.1146, ext. 202
