Skilled Nursing COVID-19 FAQ

 

Breaking News-March 23

CMS releases updates to Long-Term Care (LTC) Emergency Regulatory Waivers issued in response to COVID-19

CMS continues to review the need for existing waivers issued in response to the Public Health Emergency (PHE). Over the course of the PHE, nursing homes have developed policies or other practices that we believe mitigates the need for certain waivers.

Therefore, CMS is announcing it is ending:
-The emergency blanket waivers related to notification of Resident Room or Roommate changes, and Transfer and Discharge notification requirements;
-The emergency blanket waiver for certain care planning requirements for residents transferred or discharged for cohorting purposes.
-The emergency blanket waiver of the timeframe requirements for completing and transmitting resident assessment information (Minimum Data Set (MDS).

CMS is providing clarification and recommendations for Nurse Aide Training and Competency Evaluation Programs (NATCEPs)

Continue to stay up to date by visiting the Residential Care Strike Team Webpage or emailing residentialcarestriketeam@state.co.us

Ongoing Education

CHCA Continues to provide education responding to COVID-19, for more information, please check out our Calendar

 

NURSING HOME COVID ACTION NETWORK ECHO

This ongoing weekly series is designed to advance improvements in COVID-19 preparedness, safety and infection control in nursing homes. Topics include PPE best practices, infection control practices, minimizing spread, clinical management of asymptomatic and mild cases of COVID-19 and managing social isolation. Participants will have access to experts in infection control, patient safety, quality improvement and nursing home operations along with a library of implementation resources. The Series runs from 3/25-5/6, 2021

Join the COVID Action Call

 

CDPHE / Local Guidance and Recommendations

*Newest Information* 

Public Health Order 20-20 3/23

Guidance for indoor visitation at residential care facilities serving older adults and people with disabilities 3/23

Posted Resources

Facilities Checklist
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1B2ERnkuo2kcE_nj6LcXKw4W_isnpxUwg/view

Mandatory Visitation Guidelines
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ISlIDVr8Exwyws1jdhAl97lMPBXfadpUNDyucvLPCtY/edit

Visitation Decision Tree
https://cdphe.colorado.gov/facility-visitation-criteria

Guidance on Consent for the Un-Friended Population in LTC 12/23– A Joint Emergency LTC Ethics Committee Meeting for the unfriended was held on 12/15/20 resulting in a resolution surrounding consent and the COVID-19 vaccine. The resolution directs members of their interdisciplinary teams to take a proactive approach on this matter.

Check Infection Percentage Rates

Public Health Order20-20: Requirements for ANF, AL for COVID Prevention and Response 11/20

Current CDPHE guidance on LTC prep and Rapid Response 11/16

CORRECTION: HAN Advisory – COVID Disease Reporting Required for all COVID Testing Facilities 9/14

Current CDPHE guidance on LTC prep and Rapid Response 9/14

CLIA Waiver Process 9/3

CDPHE COVID-19 Reporting Form 9/3

CDPHE Laboratory Guidance for COVID-19-Testing 9/3

CDPHE HEALTH UPDATE | COVID-19 | 7/31

CDPHE Updated COVID-19 LTCGuidance 7/29

Current CDPHE guidance on LTC prep and Rapid Response 7/29

CDPHE Residential Care Setting Surveillance Testing Strategy & Guidance 7/2

CDPHE Health Department & Health Care Provider Site

Guidance Posted Before 7/2 is considered archived and is listed at the bottom of the page

Federal Guidance & Recommendations (CMS, CDC)

*Newest* Updates to Long-Term Care (LTC) Emergency Regulatory Waivers issued in response to COVID-19 4/8

Posted Resources

CMS Nursing Home Visitation REVISED 3/23

CDC Tool Kit
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/toolkits/long-term-care/index.html

Transmission-Based Precautions

CMS Interim Final Rule Testing Guidance QSO-20-38 August 26 8/26

CDC Interim Guidance on Rapid Antigen Tests 8/20

CDC Updates Transmission Based Precautions, Duration of Isolation, and Return to Work Criteria 7/20

Guidance Posted Before 7/20 is considered archived and is listed at the bottom of the page

AHCA/NCAL Guidance & Recommendations

Posted Resources

HHS Releases SNF Infection Control Terms and Conditions 8/31

Guidance Posted Before 7/8/31 is considered archived and is listed at the bottom of the page

AHCA COVID-19 Resource Page

AHCA has compiled several webinars concerning COVID-19 Subjects. You will use you ahcancaled login information They are:

CMS’s COVID-19 Performance Payment Program

Understanding Batch Testing with the Quidel Sofia2

You will use you ahcancalED login information to access these webinars. To get your login info please click here

AHCA Member COVID-19 Email Update Archive CHCA keeps a record of all AHCA member communications concerning CVOID-19 dating back to March 2020

CHCA Information & Resources

1/26 CHCA Set up Office Hours for combating Vaccine Hesitancy. CHCA Vaccine Acceptance Office Hours Recordings and Slides can be found here

11/25 COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy and Education: Now is the the Time Powerpoint

8/10 CHCA has provided information for facilities about the newly mandated EMResource program. This page will be updated with new information as it is released.

3/25 CHCA has been working with all relevant state agencies and the office of the Governor to help ensure that providers have as much flexibility as possible in responding to the COVID crisis.  CHCA has made a number of formal requests that would greatly benefit providers if approved, including regulatory relief, staffing flexibility and more prompt payment.  Click here to see a full description of the waivers and other flexibilities that have been requested to date.

3/24 Any suspected or confirmed case or outbreak of COVID-19 should immediately be reported to the local or state public health agency. To report, utilize the Outbreak Reporting Form for Long-Term Care Facilities. Send this form to your local public health agency OR to CDPHE by securely emailing a completed form to: HAIOutbreak@state.co.us. You may also contact your local public health agency or the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment at 303-692-2700 (8:30 – 5:00, Monday – Friday) or 303-370-9395 (after-hours, holidays and weekends). Click here for all Health Department contacts.

Posted Resources

AHCA Member COVID-19 Email Update Archive CHCA keeps a record of all AHCA member communications concerning CVOID-19 dating back to March 2020

If your community is running low on PPE, you should make a request though your local health department. Colorado’s Local Health Departments

Please note that all CHCA educational trainings will be held digitally.

Archived Information

Please Note: The information below could be considered out of date, practice or no longer accepted by State/Federal Surveyors. This information is only posted for archival purposes.

CDPHE / Local Guidance and Recommendations

CDPHE Residential Care Setting Surveillance Testing Strategy & Guidance 7/2

CDPHE Guidance for Outdoor Visitation 6/25

CDPHE Guidance for Sending COVID samples to the State Lab 6/15

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has developed a COVID-19 Testing Handbook for skilled nursing facilities to send samples to the state lab for testing. The Testing Handbook is located here. When the guidance on the Testing Handbook is not followed, it can result in delayed testing results or unsatisfactory specimens. Prior to submitting samples to the state lab, please review the Testing Handbook and contact Maren Moorehead at maren.moorehead@state.co.us with additional questions.

D-HAN Update Prepare for the Flu Season Early !! Click here for the Advisory 6/15

CDPHE COVID -19 …. New Survey Entrance Conference Requirements 5/7

CDPHE Information and Instructions for State Regulation Waiver Application  4/15

Denver City and County Updated Resource Request Form

CDPHE COVID Survey Entrance Conference Worksheet 3/31

CDPHE COVID Focused Survey Guidance 3/31

CDPHE COVID-19 Outbreak Reporting Form for LTC Facilities 3/30

CDPHE COVID-19 Surveillance Form -Residents 3/24

Federal Guidance & Recommendations (CMS, CDC)

CMS FAQs on Visitation  6/25

CMS Nursing Home Reopening Recommendations 6/3

CMS Tool Kit for COVID-19 5/14

CMS Waivers for LTC  5/1

CMS Memo: Notification of Confirmed COVID-19 Among Residents and Staff in Nursing Homes 4/19

CMS Extends Suspension of Standard Surveys 4/16

CMS releases transfer and discharge guidance for LTC 4/14

CMS COVID-19 Focused Survey Protocol. 3/31

AHCA/NCAL Guidance & Recommendations

HHS Releases SNF Infection Control Terms and Conditions 8/31

AHCA update on how to IDR a citation under F884, failure to report timely in NHSN Details here 6/16

NHSN Reporting and Related Citations & Fines 6/15

AHCA Steps to Limit COVID-19 Spread and Outbreaks in LTC 4/21

AHCA Recommendations for When a Resident Wants to Leave the Building 4/15

AHCA/NCAL Guidance: Accepting Admissions from Hospitals During COVID-19 Pandemic 3/31

AHCA COVID-19: Screening Checklist – for Visitors and Staff 3/31

AHCA template letter to advise families in the event of a COVID positive in your community 3/30

AHCA/NCAL Guidance: Accepting Admissions from Hospitals During COVID-19 Pandemic Revised 3/30