ATTENTION: NC SENIOR LIVING ASSOCIATION COVID-19 UPDATE 4/4/20
Below are recent developments regarding COVID-19. Providers are encouraged to check the
NCDHHS COVID-19 webpage
for the latest updates regarding the virus and the state's response.
- Division of Health Service Regulation (DHSR) Releases New Guidance for Long Term Care Facilities - The DHSR notified NCSLA last evening that they have adopted the latest guidance from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for nursing homes (long term care facilities) to also be used for adult care and family care home providers. The guidance can be viewed/downloaded Here (Note: The guidance document contains links to the referenced materials below, i.e. CDC guidance, etc.) The new guidance addresses five areas:
- Nursing Homes (long term care facilities including adult and family care homes) should immediately ensure that they are complying with all CMS and CDC guidance related to infection control.
- As long-term care facilities are a critical part of the healthcare system, and because of the ease of spread in long-term care facilities and the severity of illness that occurs in residents with COVID-19, CMS urges State and local leaders to consider the needs of long-term care facilities with respect to supplies of PPE and COVID-19 tests.
- Long-term care facilities should immediately implement symptom screening for all
- Long-term care facilities should ensure all staff are using appropriate PPE when they are interacting with patients and residents, to the extent PPE is available and per CDC guidance on conservation of PPE.
- To avoid transmission within long-term care facilities, facilities should use separate staffing teams for COVID-19-positive residents to the best of their ability, and work with State and local leaders to designate separate facilities or units within a facility to separate COVID-19 negative residents from COVID-19 positive residents and individuals with unknown COVID-19 status.
- Number of COVID-19 cases - According to the most recent case count as of today, North Carolina has 2328 cases, which is a 11.2% increase in cases from yesterday (4/3 had 2093 cases). In addition, to date there have been 27 deaths related to the virus and the virus is in over 86 counties. You can view the number of cases and other date Here.
- NC Department of Public Safety (DPS) Issues Guidelines for Allocation of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) - The DPS, which includes the state Division of Emergency Management and is coordinating the state's response to COVID-19, issued guidance yesterday regarding the allocation of PPE. As NCSLA has previously communicated, supplies of PPE are low and we have learned that North Carolina only received approximately 33% of the PPE they requested from the Federal Government. As a result, the DPS has issued guidelines (Click Here) that show the priority of how the state's supply of PPE will be distributed. The guidelines are divided into three groups with Group 1 being the highest priority. Adult care homes with identified COVID-19 infections are in Group 1 and should receive priority if a request is made for PPE. Because state supplies of PPE are limited, it is highly recommended that providers attempt to obtain their own PPE (resources identified below) since it is possible as the COVD-19 outbreak becomes more severe, the state's supply of PPE will be depleted.
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) resources - Below are the PPE resources NCSLA is aware. Many of these suppliers are obtaining their PPE from overseas; therefore, it may take up to 2 - 3 weeks for the PPE to arrive after an order has been placed. In addition, many of the suppliers require payment for the PPE prior to submitting order for fulfillment as opposed to invoicing and getting paid at a later date.
- Proforma - Michael S. Prillaman, Proforma Total Print Solutions, 320 Habersham Rd., Ste. 105 • High Point, NC 27260, office 336.841.5292 • cell 336.312-0813 michael.prillaman@proforma.com
- Medical Supply Solutions - Chad Tart, Sales Manager Medical Supply Solution, Email: ctart@medicalss.us
919-971-0609 (c), 910-521-5550 (o), 910-521-3335 (f)
- Intalere - Gross Purchasing Organization has a listing of medical suppliers Click Here
- Go Bright Ideas - According to the supplier, both types of masks are FDA approved. Currently, Production/Delivery time is running 10 to 15 business days and, of course, this can change on a daily basis. Shipping is included in the pricing below to one location. If there is a need to ship to multiple locations, please contact the supplier. Prepayment is required. Supplier contact information is as follows:
- Glenn Rowe, email: glenn@gobrightideas.com
- Phone: 434-260-5250
- Cell 434-906-4179
- Requesting PPE from the Local Emergency Management Agency - We continue to hear from providers that have run out of or running low on supplies of PPE (masks, gowns, gloves, etc.) that they have contacted their County Emergency Management Agency and have been told the PPE supplies are limited.
- **We encourage members that need PPE to keep checking in with your County Emergency Management Agency on at least a weekly basis to re-emphasize the need for PPE to protect your staff and residents. **
- The COVID-19 Healthcare Coalition for Critical Equipment and Supplies recently provided the following forms (Healthcare Guidance for PPE and PPE Request Process) for providers to use when determining their burn rate of PPE and the request process for PPE. According to the state's Healthcare Coalition for COVID-19, if a long term care facility has a resident with COVID-19 and is at risk of exhausting their supplies of PPE, immediately contact your County Emergency Management Agency, it is imperative that you explicitly communicate this information to the Agency so they can work with their Healthcare Coalition to locate PPE and help get it to your facility.
- NC Tracks and Billing for Personal Care Services (PCS) - NCSLA received emails and phone calls yesterday from providers that were experiencing problems billing and getting paid for Medicaid PCS. NCSLA immediately contacted NC Medicaid who stated they would investigate the situation. As a result, NC Tracks issued the below communication this afternoon:
"Pending PCS Claims Due to System Update -
Apr 3, 2020
NCTracks is aware that claims submitted by Personal Care Services (PCS) providers have pended (or are pending) with Edit 00353, Explanation of Benefits (EOB) 01660 - NO FEE ON FILE FOR PRICING PROVIDER due to a configuration change made in the system last night which will be reset later today. No action is required by providers. These claims will be released and paid later today and will be in the April 7, 2020 checkwrite."
Reducing resident exposure to individuals who are potentially infected with COVID-19 is of paramount importance since our residents are among the highest risk group for infection and mortality from this virus. Thank you and your staff for all you are doing to provide care to our residents during this difficult time in what we all hope will be a temporary event.
If you have questions concerning any aspect of this document, please do not hesitate to contact me at
jeff@ncseniorliving.org
or 919-787-2526.
Jeff Horton, Executive Director
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North Carolina Senior Living Association
4010 Barrett Dr., Ste. 102
Raleigh, NC 27609
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