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
Maine DHHS Guidance
- 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
- Thank You for Reaching Out
- 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
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: Comment Deadline Approaching: Immunization Requirements for Healthcare Workers, Facilities have Two Weeks to Register Vaccination Preferences in National Distribution Program for LTC Residents, Maine Proposed Regulations Governing the Licensing and Functioning of Assisted Housing Programs, FDA Releases Guidance on Self-Swabbing Technique, ICYMI: Safe Reunions (Family Visitation) Webinar Recording Now Available, Updated PPE Suppliers (10/22/20)
- MHCA Covid-19 Briefing: Covid-19 Vaccination News, AHCA Hosting Office Hours on the New Pharmacy Partnership, Maine Submits Initial Covid-19 Vaccination Plan to Federal Government, MHCA and MHA Op/Ed: Hospitals and Nursing Homes Need Aid from the State, Notes from Maine CDC Medical Directors/Clinician Call (10/20/20)
- MHCA Covid-19 Briefing: Reminder: Phase II of Governor Mills' Economic Recovery Grant Program includes Assisted Living, DLC Clarifies Testing of EMS Personnel When Interacting in Nursing Homes, Join the New Health Care Career Portal to be Connected with Potential Employees, CDC Releases New NHSN Pathway for POC Testing(10/15/20)
- MHCA Covid-19 Briefing: Correction to CDC Data Page Link in Guidance, ICYMI: Resident Voting Rights Workshop Available on Demand, New OSHA Guidance for Covid-19 and AHCA/NCAL OSHA Resources, CMS Releases Medicare Accelerated and Advance Payment Guidance (10/13/20)
- MHCA Covid-19 Briefing: Member Survey: Maine DHHS Proposal to Add Seasonal Flu Vaccine to Required Immunizations for HCWs, DHHS Launches Health Care Career Portal, Important Reminders about Absentee Voting, Updated Testing Guidance from AHCA, HHS Updates Provider Fund Relief FAQs (10/08/20)
- MHCA Covid-19 Briefing: Mills Administration Announces Maine to Enter State 4 of Reopening, AHCA to Host FFCRA Webinar Tomorrow for Members Only, Notes from Today's DHHS/CDC Medical Director/Clinician Call, Opportunity to Join ECHO National Nursing Home Covid-19 Action Network, OADS Offers Infection Prevention and Control Resources to Assisted Housing, Extension Offered for Quality Award Winners in Year 3, Federal Government Extends Public Health Emergency (10/06/20)
AHCA Communication
- AHCA/NCAL: Update - Updated Reporting Requirements to the Provider Relief Fund (10/22/20)
- AHCA/NCAL: Update - Weighing Pharmacy Options for the CDC Vaccine Distribution Program (10/22/20)
- AHCA/NCAL: Update - Sign Up Now for the CDC Vaccine LTC Distribution Program
- AHCA/NCAL: Update - White House Announces Vaccination Distribution Program for LTC Residents (10/16/20)
- AHCA/NCAL: Update - Helping Residents Vote in 2020 (10/16/20)
- AHCA/NCAL: Update - New OSHA Guidance for COVID-19 and Resources (10/12/20)
- AHCA/NCAL: Update - CMS Releases Medicare Accelerated and Advance Payment (10/08/20)
- AHCA/NCAL: Update - HHS Updates Provider Relief Fund FAQs (10/07/20)
- AHCA/NCAL: Update - Important Webinar Updates (10/05/20)
- AHCA/NCAL: Update - Ask the Experts: FFCRA Webinar Recording and Follow-up Webinar (10/02/20)
- AHCA/NCAL: Update - HHS Announces New Opportunity to Apply for Provider Relief Fund Resources (10/01/20)
- AHCA/NCAL: Update - President Trump Signs into Law Continuing Appropriations Act, 2021 and Other Extensions Act (10/01/20)
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)
- Maine CDC Outdoor Visitation Guidance (06/10/20)
- Increased Testing Capacity (05/18/20)
- Maine CDC Emergency Rulemaking-Reporting Requirements (05/12/20)
- Key Strategies to Prepare for COVID-19 in Long-term Care Facilities (LTCFs) (05/05/20)
- Maine CDC Temporary Updates (04/22/20)
- 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
- 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
