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
- Non-Nursing Personnel Example Policy
- SDS for Maine Craft Distilling Hand Sanitizer
- Rotation Strategy for Extended Use PPE
- 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
- COVID-19 Resource Request Form (ICS 213 RR)
- MHCA Staffing Decision Trees
- Healthcare Worker Exposure Risk Guide
- Sample Family Letter-In House Confirmed Case
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- MHCA List of Non-FDA Alternative PPE Suppliers (Updated 06/01/20)
- MHCABS GPO Partner Provista/Vizient PPE Opportunity with Tomahawk Wildcat: Disposable Isolation Gowns and PlatinumCode Tourniquet: Nitrile Gloves
- MHCABS GPO Partner Provista/Vizient PPE Opportunity with Standard Textile: Reusable Isolation Gowns & Masks
- MHCABS GPO Partner Provista/Vizient PPE Opportunity with Grainger: Recovery Kits
- MHCABS GPO Partner Provista/Vizient PPE Opportunity with HR Pharmaceutical: Portable Hand Sanitizer
- MHCABS GPO Partner Provista/Vizient PPE Opportunity with Hanes: Contract FAQs, Path to Purchase, and Product Spec Sheet (05/18/20)
- MHCABS GPO Partner Provista/Vizient PPE Opportunities: Grainger: Hand Sanitizer, Disinfectant, Temperature Pass Management Module & Face Recognition Strategic Lab Partners: Swabs, Transport Media and Collection Kits - FAQ/Order Form (05/13/20)
- MHCABS GPO Partner Provista/Vizient PPE Opportunity with Encompass Group (05/11/20)
- MHCABS GPO Partner Provista/Vizient PPE Opportunity with ASP Global (05/08/20)
- 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
Testing
- MeMDA Containment Protocol
- 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
Focused Infection Control Survey 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
- 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)
MHCA Daily Covid-19 Briefings
- MHCA Covid-19 Briefing: Summary of Today's CDC Medical Director/Clinician Call, Maine LTC Ombudsman to Offer Free Zoom Call for Families, MHCA to Participate, CMS Issues Final Rule for FY 2021 SNF PPS, and Next CMS Open Door Forum this Week (08/04/20)
- MHCA Covid-19 Briefing: Updates from July 29 CDC Call, Point of Care Antigen Testing Devices Arriving at NHs Nationwide, Free Education Opportunity for Maine Providers, CMS Covid-19 Stakeholder Calls (07/30/20)
- MHCA Covid-19 Briefing: Electronic Device Update, When You Become Ill: Resources for Assisted Housing Residents, SNF QRP Covid-19 PHE Tip Sheet, Medicaid Application for Provider Relief Fund Extended, CMS National NH Training Webinar (07/28/20)
- MHCA Covid-19 Briefing: MHCA Urges Mills Administration to Dedicate CARES Act Funding to LTC, Trump Administration Announces New Resources to Protect NH Residents Against Covid-19, Updates from Weekly CDC Call (07/23/20)
- MHCA Covid-19 Briefing: Summary of CDC Medical Director/Clinician Call, CDC Updates Transmission Based Precautions, Duration of Isolation and Return to Work Criteria, AHCA Bronze and Silver Quality Awards Notifications, NHSN Releases Update, OAA State Plan on Aging Virtual Public Hearing, CMS National NH Training Webinar (07/21/20)
- MHCA Covid-19 Briefing: Trump Administration Announces Initiative for More/Faster Covid-19 Testing in NHs, What do When our Residents Leave the Building, CMS Issues SNF QRP Notice of Non-Compliance Related to Annual Payment Update (07/16/20)
- MHCA Covid-19 Briefing: Covid-19 By the Numbers, Universal Testing Updates, NF Bed Hold Days Increased for MaineCare Beneficiaries, CMS National NH Training Webinar, OADS Unveils Newly Designed Website (07/14/20)
- MHCA Covid-19 Briefing: Changes to the CDC/DHHS Calls Beginning July 13, MHCA in the News, Governor Mills Renews State of Civil Emergency/Strengthens Enforcement of Face Coverings, Highlights from CDC Call (07/09/20)
- MHCA Covid-19 Briefing: Update: Nursing Facility and Residential Care Facility Rate Letters for State Fiscal Year 2021, NEW Assisted Housing Guidance from Maine OADS, Summary of Today's MD Clinician Call with Maine CDC, CMS National Nursing Home Training Series, CMS Stakeholder Engagement Calls (07/07/20)
- MHCA Covid-19 Briefing: TRI Reconciliation Form Clarified, Claims Processing Guidance for 3-day Stay and Spell-of-Illness Waivers, Communication Device UPDATE, Summary of LTC Call with Maine CDC, MeMDA Requests Your Input, Share you 4th of July Celebrations with MHCA (07/02/20)
AHCA Communication
- AHCA Antigen Testing Machine Preparation (07/30/20)
- AHCA Considerations for Visitation and Resuming Activities
- AHCA/NCAL: Update - HHS Provider Relief Fund Announcements (08/01/20)
- AHCA/NCAL: Update - CMS Releases List of Nursing Homes Prioritized for POC Testing Instrument (07/23/20)
- AHCA/NCAL: Update - CDC Updates Transmission Based Precautions, Duration of Isolation, and Return to Work Criteria (07/21/20)
- AHCA/NCAL: Update - Deadline Extended for Medicaid Application to Provider Relief Fund (07/17/20)
- AHCA/NCAL: Update - Summary of CMS Call on POC Testing in Nursing Homes (07/16/20)
- AHCA/NCAL: Update - Webcast Tomorrow on Medicaid Distribution from the Provider Relief Fund (07/07/20)
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)
- Maine DHHS/CDC LTC Med Directors Call Q&A (04/28/20)
- Maine DLC Staffing/Non Nursing Personnel Guidance (04/28/20)
- AMDA – The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine (04/22/20)
- For Your Facility MD: Optimizing Med Mgmt during COVID-19 (04/14/20)
- Emergency Tips for Residents living with Dementia during COVID19 (03/31/20)
- Free N-95 Respirator Education for Direct Care (03/16/20)
- Health Care Professionals Frequently Asked Questions
- 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
- 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
