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.

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Weekly Maine CDC call for Long Term Care Facilities

Maine CDC COVID-19 Weekly Healthcare Provider Briefing Calls

In order to provide accurate and timely information to a wide group of stakeholders, Maine CDC will be hosting a series of recurring briefings on the rapidly evolving COVID-19 situation. 

Every Monday 1:00 p.m. EST
Limited lines - call in early
https://zoom.us/j/544261659
646.558.8656, Meeting ID: 544261659

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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)

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MHCA Created Resources

• 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
• COVID-19 Resource Request Form (ICS 213 RR)
• MHCA Staffing Decision Trees
• Healthcare Worker Exposure Risk Guide
• Sample Family Letter-In House Confirmed Case

• State Regulatory Relief (04/04/20)

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MHCA Communication

• MHCA Member Update: GPO PPE, Supplemental Payments, OSHA on Respiratory Protection, PPE and Exposure, CMS PBJ Update, MaineBiz Free Webinar, EIDL Program Grants and Loans Webinar (04/08/20)
• MHCA Member Update: Taking Action After Confirmed Case, Report Price Gouging, Alternative Care Sites, CMS Call-April 8, and Webinar Offerings (04/08/20)
• MHCA Member Update: LTC PPE Update, CDC Guidance on Cloth Masks, Fire Marshall Q&A, Free Webinar on COVID-19 Best Practices (04/06/20)
• MHCA Member Update: Financial Support and Regulatory Relief (04/04/20)
• MHCA Member Update: MHCA Interpretation of CMS PPE Guidance (04/03/20)
• MHCA Member Update: URGENT Change in PPE Request Process (04/03/20)
• MHCA Member Update: PPE Optimization and Use, Accessing CMS Call Recordings (04/02/20)
• MHCA Member Update: MaineCDC Testing Updates, Weekly Call and Toolkit; DOL Guidance on FFCRA; CMS Blanket Waiver; and AHCA Accelerated Payments FAQs (04/01/20)
• MHCA Member Update: CMS Call with Nursing Homes Today (04/01/20)
• MHCA Member Update: PPE Suppliers, End of Life Care, and CMS Telehealth Toolkit (03/31/20)
• MHCA Member Update: Department of Labor Leave Guidance and Maine CDC Call Highlights (03/30/20)
• MHCA Member Update: Child Care for LTC Staffing (03/27/20)
• MHCA Member Update: PPE Usage, Testing in LTC, and Gov. Mills on ECA (03/26/20)
• MHCA Member Update: Maine CDC Call Highlights and Gov. Mills Update (03/25/20)
• MHCA Member Update: CDC Call on PPE (03/25/20)
• MHCA Member Update: MaineCare Pharmacy Guidance (03/24/20)
• MHCA Member Update: Maine CDC Call Highlights (03/23/20)
• MHCA Member Update: Maine CDC Call Highlights (03/20/20)
• MHCA Member Update: Family First, Maximus (03/19/20)
• MHCA Member Update: Maine CDC Call Highlights (03/18/20)
• MHCA Member Update: Gov. Mills Announcement & Maine CDC Call Highlights (03/16/20)
• MHCA Member Update: Version 2/Dining (03/14/20)
• MHCA Member Update: CMS Recommendations - Infection Control (03/14/20)
• MHCA Member Update: Maine CDC, Senator Collins, LTC Obudsman Updates (03/13/20)
• MHCA Member Update: Gov. Mills and Maine CDC Press Conference Update (03/12/20)
• MHCA Member Update: CMS and AHCA Guidance (03/10/20)
• MHCA Member Update: CMS Guidance (03/05/20)
• MHCA Member Update: CMS Guidance (03/03/20)

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AHCA Communication

• AHCA/NCAL: Update 34 - OSHA on PPE Shortages (04/08/20)
• AHCA/NCAL: Update 33 - CMS Call Later Today (04/07/20)
• AHCA/NCAL: Update 32 - Revised Resources on Cohorting and When COVID-19 Gets in (04/04/20)
• AHCA/NCAL: Update 31 - CMS Releases Recommendations to Nursing Homes (04/03/20)
• AHCA/NCAL: Update 30 - How to Reduce the Risk of Spread (04/02/20)
• AHCA/NCAL: Update 29 - COVID’s Toll on Residents Families and Staff (04/01/20)
• AHCA/NCAL: Update 28 - CMS Call Later Today for Nursing Homes (04/01/20)
• AHCA/NCAL: Update 27 - AHCA/NCAL Launches a Free Temporary Nurse Aide Training (03/31/20) 
• AHCA/NCAL: Update 26 - CMS Issues Blanket Regulatory Waivers (03/30/20)
• AHCA/NCAL: Update 25 - Updated Guidance on Hospital Transfers (03/30/20)
• AHCA/NCAL: Update 24 - DOL Guidance on Leave Exemptions (03/29/20)
• AHCA/NCAL: Update 23 - Medicare Accelerated and Advanced Payments Now Available (03/28/20)
• AHCA/NCAL: Update 22 - Third Stimulus Package Signed into Law (03/27/20)
• AHCA/NCAL: Update 21 - Stimulus Package Passes the Senate (03/26/20)
• AHCA/NCAL: Update 20 - CMS Call Today at 4:30 Eastern (03/25/20)
• AHCA/NCAL: Update 19 - Tomorrow CDC Call on PPE Strategies (03/24/20)
• AHCA/NCAL: CMS Announces Prioritization of SNF Surveys (03/23/20)
• AHCA/NCAL: Update 17 - Call on the Public for Supplies (03/23/20)
• AHCA/NCAL: Update 16 - Guidance on Essential Staff Entering Your Building (03/22/20)
• AHCA/NCAL: Update 15 - Beware of COVID-19 Scammers (03/21/20)
• AHCA/NCAL: Update 14 - Interim Guidance on SNFs Accepting Patients from Hospitals (03/20/20)
• AHCA/NCAL: Update 13 - Relief Package Signed by the President (03/19/20)
• AHCA/NCAL: Update 12 - New CDC Guidance on Use of Masks, Gowns and Eye Protection to Conserve Supplies (03/18/20)
• AHCA/NCAL: Update 11 - New Communal Dining Guidance and Supply Shortage of PPE (03/15/20)
• AHCA/NCAL: Update 10 - 3-Day Stay Waiver Update (03/14/20)
• AHCA/NCAL: Update 9 - National Emergency Declared (03/14/20)
• AHCA/NCAL: Update 8 - New Resources on Interacting with Hospitals and Communicating with Residents & Families (03/13/30)
• AHCA/NCAL: Update 7 - CMS Releases COVID-19 Medicare FFS and Medicaid Advantage Plan Guidance (03/12/20)
• AHCA/NCAL: Update 6 - Implement Environmental Infection Control - Cleaning & Disinfection (03/11/20)
• AHCA/NCAL: New CMS Guidance on Industrial Respirators (03/11/20)
• AHCA/NCAL: Update 5 - CMS Issues Revised Guidance for SNFs - Limiting Visitors (03/10/20)
• AHCA/NCAL: Update 4 - Steps to Prevent COVID-19 from Entering Your Facility (03/09/20)
• AHCA/NCAL: COVID19 Screening Checklist
• AHCA/NCAL: Update 3 - CMS Issues Memo on Quality, Safety & Oversight (03/04/20)
• AHCA/NCAL: Webinar - Coronavirus Recording (03/03/20)
• AHCA/NCAL: Update 2 - Additional Steps for COVID-19 (02/29/20)
• AHCA/NCAL: Update 1 - Preparing for COVID-19 and Personal Protective Equipment Strategies (02/28/20)
• AHCA/NCAL: Link to AHCA's Coronavirus Resources Webpage 

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Maximus Assessment Communication

• Maximus Assessment Response for COVID-19 (03/19/20)
• ​COVID-19 OADS FAQ for LTSS and Aging (03/19/20)

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

• Preparing LTCFs for COVID-19 (04/06/20)
• CDC Situation Summary
• CDC Strategies to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19 in LTC Facilities
• Gov. Mills Announces COVID-19 Response Team (03/02/20)
• CDC COVID 19 Information for Healthcare Professionals
• Resources for Healthcare Facilities
• CDC Informational Videos on COVID 19
• Health Care Professionals Frequently Asked Questions
• Healthcare Infection Prevention and Control FAQs for COVID-19
• Information for Laboratories
• CDC Recommendations to Protect Yourself

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Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

• QSO-20-14 NH Guidance (03/13/2020)
• ​CMS Protective Mask Guidance for Healthcare Workers
• QSO-20-17, CMS Memo (03/11/20)
• QSO 20 14 NH Guidance
• Requesting a State of Emergency Waiver
• 1135 Waiver Authority
• CMS Guidance for Infection Control and Prevention of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Nursing Nomes (03/04/20)
• CMS Guidance for Infection Control and Prevention Concerning Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19): FAQs and Considerations for Patient Triage, Placement and Hospital Discharge (03/04/20)
• CMS Suspension of Survey Activities
• CMS QSO 20-09-ALL Memo (02/06/20)
• 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

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Visitor Screenings

• Maximize your front-line defenses – Begin a system of screening visitors and staff before they are in contact with residents, for contact with international travelers, and any out of country travel they may take.
• AHCA Example Notice to Families
• ​AHCA Template Letter to Employees

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Communications/Media Relations

• Crisis Comm in an Infectious Diseases Outbreak (04/03/20)
• When COVID Gets into Your Facility (04/03/20)
• Template Family Letter for Confirmed COVID-19 Case
• Infection Control Statement and Talking Points for Confirmed COVID-19 Case
• Crisis Communication Abbreviated Presentation
• Emergency Preparedness and Media Plan
• ​MHCA Press Statement (03/17/20)
• MHCA Media Relations (03/10/20)
• MHCA Sample Letter to Families

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Tips for Staff

• Communicate frequently with all staff to keep them informed on the expectations for prevention steps everyone can take to protect residents, at work and at home.
• Review with staff potential situations that could interrupt their work schedule, like closed schools, daycare, illness of family or themselves, and help them plan their steps.
• Use the tools – CDC Infographics for sharing information quickly and help staff to take actions
• Learn and share what the CDC is doing to protect and prepare communities for COVID 19
• Housekeeping Handout
• Free N-95 Respirator Education for Direct Care  (03/16/20)
• 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.
• Emergency Tips for Residents living with Dementia during COVID19 (03/31/20)
• AAPACN COVID 19 Education for HC Professionals (04/06/20)

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Supplies

• Maine Online Request Form for PPE
• HHS to Procure N95 Respirators to Support Healthcare Workers in COVID-19 Outbreaks (03/04/20)
• CDC Healthcare Supply of Personal Protective Equipment
• NIOSH-Approved Particulate Filtering Facepiece Respirators
• Strategies for Optimizing the Supply of N95 Respirators: Crisis/Alternate Strategies
• Checklist for Healthcare Facilities: Strategies for Optimizing the Supply of N95 Respirators during the COVID-19 Response
• CDC Webinar - Healthcare Systems Preparedness for COVID 19 – Strategies for preparedness and optimizing N95 supplies / Webinar Slides
• CDC Guidance for Extended Use and Limited Reuse of N95 respirators in health care settings

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Signage

• FHCA Infection Procedures Activated/Visitor Poster
• Handwashing Infographic (English)
• Handwashing Infographic (French)
• Handwashing infographic (Urdu)
• 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

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Working with Partners

• Verify with your local hospitals and other facilities if you are aligned in planning and the actions necessary if a potential infection is identified.
• Advance notification – If residents with potential infection need to be transported, it should be mandatory to alert the destination so they can advise precautions.
• All practitioners, healthcare facilities, and laboratories in Maine are required to notify the ME CDC of diseases or conditions of public health significance.
• Maine Advanced Directives Form
• Transfer Protocol for Nursing Homes MFDA

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Maine Center for Disease Control reporting Contact Information

• Phone: 1.800.821.5821 (24 hours a day)
• Fax: 1.800.293.7534 (24 hours a day)
• TTY: Maine relay 711 (24 hours a day)