The latest news from LeadingAge Connecticut
State Capitol Complex Closed 
The State Capitol Complex has been closed down through March 29 due to the coronavirus situation. The entire complex was cleaned over the last four days and the situation will be reevaluated before March 29 to see if the closure will be extended. During this closure there will be no committee meetings or public hearings held. While a rule change was adopted by the General Assembly last week to address the situation, it only extended the Committee deadlines by a few days and so most Committees will reach their deadlines before the Capitol reopens. Since a bill needs a public hearing to advance out of a Committee, many bills will die.
 
Leaders may attempt to take quick action next month on a limited number of bills, including an effort to pass necessary adjustments to the biennial budget. Things are very fluid right now, but our lobbying team is maintaining constant contact with legislators and continuing to advocate on our issues, even with the building being closed.

Governor to Close Businesses Tonight at 8
Governor Lamont has just announced that he will be closing bars, restaurants and other businesses in the state tonight at 8 p.m.  Supermarkets, pharmacies, gas stations and other essential businesses will remain open.   More information to follow.

COVID-19 Update
The past week has been very hectic for all of our members and together with LeadingAge, we have been obtaining as much information as possible to keep all our members updated on COVID-19 resources, regulatory guidance and information. We have been providing information on a daily basis and have been maintaining a running list of the information on a new COVID-19 Resources web page.
 
For the last week, we have been in direct discussions with the Governor's office, the Commissioners of DSS and DPH, and the Office of Health Strategies to advocate for the needs of our members and those you serve. In addition, we hosted a member conference call last week on crisis media relations which was recorded and is available on our resource page. We also hosted a member call for our life plan and campus communities and will continue to hold a series of member calls this week.
 
Here is a list of links to important updates sent out last week:
March 14: Upcoming CDC COCO Call on LTC scheduled for March 17 at 2pm, Updated CDC LTC Guidance Link
March 14: Explanation of New CMS Visitor Guidance for SNFs, CMS Emergency Waivers, Updated CDC Infection Control Guidance, Template for LTC COVID-19 Infection Control Policy, Updated HUD Update, LeadingAge Crisis Communication Tools Link
March 13: New DPH Visitation Guidance for SNFs Link

Upcoming member calls this week:
Monday, March 16, 2:00 pm, Affordable Housing Call ( link to register)
Tuesday, March 17, Noon, Nursing Homes
Wednesday, March 18, 4:00 pm, Life Plan Communities, IL, AL
Thursday, March 19, Noon, Nursing Home DNS Forum
Friday, March 20, 2:30 pm, COVID-19 and Human Resource Issues
Watch your email for the phone-in information or email mmorelli@leadingagect.org.
   
Important Links:
 
Latest Nursing Home Visitor Restrictions - COVID-19
On March 13, CMS issued a revised memorandum related to visitor restrictions in nursing homes which is effective immediately.  This guidance came shortly after Connecticut's Governor released the state's new guidance which is in line with the new federal guidance.
Links to more information on the CMS and DPH guidance

Medicaid Provider Bulletins: Telemedicine and COVID-19

Child Care Concerns
The State is very concerned about the ability to meet the child care needs of the health care employees during this crisis. If a member is interested in establishing a child care center for their employees, please contact me and I will provide you with the guidance on how to proceed. Please remember that the nursing home visitor restrictions do apply to children, so any planning would need to take this into consideration.

COVID-19 Email Address for Non-Urgent Questions
DPH has established an email address for licensed health care facilities to use when asking non-urgent questions related to COVID-19. COVID19.dph@ct.gov is the address to use to submit questions. This is an email account for leadership in healthcare facilities, EMS, and local health departments. It is meant for organizational inquiries only.
Urgent matters should continue to be directed to agency staff you routinely communicate with during business hours for weekend and evenings, please call 860-509-8000.
Questions from the general public can be found by calling 211 or texting CTCOVID to 898211.

Department of Labor FAQs - COVID-19
The Connecticut Department of Labor has released frequently asked questions about coronavirus for workers and employees. Learn more here

CBIA Employers Guide - COVID-19
The following is a link to the  Connecticut Business and Industry Association's publication : Coronavirus: An Employer's Guide . We will be holding a member call soon on this topic.

Housing and COVID-19
Many housing members have asked for updated guidance on whether they can restrict visitors in their communities.  Following are responses to some questions that have been raised:
 
Has HUD provided any updated guidance?
Last week, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued a memorandum on COVID-19.  In the memorandum, HUD indicated that HUD subsidized housing communities will need to refer to state and local requirements for guidance on visitor restrictions.
 
Does Landlord Tenant Law prohibit landlords from imposing limitations and restrictions on visitors?
Wiggin and Dana has advised us that there are no specific provisions under Connecticut landlord tenant law that guarantee a tenant the absolute right to have guests or visitors on the leased premises.  As a result, a landlord may adopt rules or regulations restricting visitors on the leased premises provided that the purpose of the rule or regulation is strictly to promote the "convenience, safety or welfare" of the tenants.   Such a rule or regulation can be enforced as long as it applies to all tenants on premises in a fair manner, is sufficiently explicit and the tenant has notice of the rule or regulation. 
 
Given the Governor's declaration of a state of emergency last week and increasing incidence of COVID-19 in our State, visitor restrictions could be justified in housing communities.  We recommend that housing members stay in close contact with their local health departments to monitor the situation in the community and discuss necessary precautions that should be taken to restrict visitors.  If you do decide to impose restrictions, make sure that you articulate the rule clearly in writing by stating the reason for the rule, the exact nature of the restriction (e.g. all visitors other than health care providers), the date it will take effect, and the general time period when it will expire (e.g. for the next 30 days subject to continuation if necessary).  You should deliver the written notice to each resident, send notification to designated contacts and post the rule throughout the community.
 
What types of visitor restrictions can be imposed?
There are varying levels of limits and restrictions that you can consider.  You can limit the number of guests per tenant, the location for visits, or visiting hours.  Another option is to restrict or ban all visitors other than health care providers providing services to tenants.  We note that there have been some reports of housing providers not permitting licensed health care providers such as hospice nurses into the building to see tenants who require services.  To the extent possible, it is advisable to permit tenants to have access to their health care providers.  You can require that the providers follow the same screening protocols that you have in place for your employees to ensure that individuals with symptoms or recent travel histories do not enter the community.  For tenants that receive homemaker/companion services pursuant to a waiver program, we recommend that you coordinate with your local access agency to ensure that any essential services are provided.
 
What are my obligations if my community is also a Managed Residential Community where assisted living services are provided to residents?
  Residents of Managed Residential Communities or MRCs have two relevant statutory rights: (i)  the right to private communication, including have visitors of their own choice and (ii) the right to directly engage or contract with licensed professionals to obtain "necessary" health care services in their private residences.  These provisions apply to congregate housing members, as well as life plan community and housing members designated as MRCs.  LeadingAge Connecticut has requested that the Department of Public Health provide guidance on whether these rules, particularly the right to visitors of the resident's choice, can be waived given the current emergency situation.  We will let you know as soon as we hear back from DPH.  

February MFP Report
The following is the latest quarterly report on the State's Money Follows the Person Report prepared by the UConn Health, Center on Aging.

U.S. Census Resources
The  U.S. Census Bureau provides a variety of resources for organizations to use when encouraging participation in the 2020 Census including logos, posters, fact sheets, PSAs, videos , and sample newsletter content.

The Benefits of Your LeadingAge Connecticut Membership
We encourage all of our members to learn about all of the benefits of membership in LeadingAge Connecticut. Tour your benefits of membership now! 

The Next Big Thing with Quality Apex
Are MDS's Supporting Success Under PDPM?  Click Here to Learn More About Our Over 150 Logic Checks!



Your Organization Can Save Money with Value First!
Value First is our Group Purchasing Organization and it is saving LeadingAge members money all across the country. Don't miss out on the opportunity to save! Contact Denis today and ask for a free cost study to see if our new food pricing can save you money! Den Miciletto,  dmiciletto@leadingageny.org, (518) 867-8383 ext. 16.

Please Keep Us Up to Date on Your Major Staffing Changes
In an effort to keep our contact information current with our members and their staff, we request that you notify our office manager, Nurka Carrero, as soon as possible when you have significant staffing changes. Thank you!

 
Looking for a previous article?
For your convenience, we have established a page on our website with Archived Capitol Line Articles.
 
Events and Education
LeadingAge Connecticut has a very full education event calendar for winter 2020 and we encourage you to view our
 
The Following Events Have Been Postponed:
  • Workforce Symposium: Trends, Recruitment and Retention Strategies previously scheduled for March 20, 2020
  • The Caring Hands Awards previously scheduled for April 2, 2020
  • Annual EXPO scheduled for May 20, 2020 - New Date is August 4
  • In addition, the April 14 Board Meeting will no longer be held as a membership meeting.
Workforce Symposium - Postponed 
Replaced with Member Call on HR Issues and COVID-19
Friday, March 20

Dementia Council Meeting
Tuesday morning, April 28
Meeting to be held at LeadingAge Connecticut

HR Council Meeting 
Thursday morning, April 30
Meeting to be held at LeadingAge Connecticut

LeadingAge Connecticut EXPO
New Date: August 4
Program to be held at the Aqua Turf Club
 
Dementia Symposium featuring Teepa Snow
Thursday, September 17
Program to be held at Elim Park


Education is sponsored by our Platinum Partners
LeadingAge National

 
LeadingAge National News
LeadingAge is committed to keeping you up to date with news that will help your organization thrive . Go to th LeadingAge Need to Know Site   for the latest national information! 

Patient-Driven Payment Model Webinar
The new Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM) has been in place for six months. Join LeadingAge Silver Partner CLA for a FREE webinar to learn about the key trends they are observing post implementation. CLA will highlight some of the changes with PDPM and how they affect the clinical practice, therapy delivery, and compliance requirements. It is scheduled for Tuesday, March 24 from 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. eastern time. Click here to register.
 
Also as a reminder, LeadingAge has several tools and resources for members with nursing homes, on payment and many other topics, that you can access here.

Great Resource! The Member Community
The My LeadingAge Member Community is where LeadingAge members across the country connect with one another online to exchange knowledge, solve problems, and share resources. Members have access to a personalized, interactive experience that empowers them to engage year-round with their peers in aging services. Join the My LeadingAge Member Community today! 

Resources for LeadingAge Home Health Members
LeadingAge home health care members are able to access the member benefits of VNAA and Elevate at Home, including member pricing for the new Clinical Procedure Manual. 
  
MDS Expert Consultant at Your Fingertips
One of the benefits of being a LeadingAge member is access to our MDS-expert consultant. Here is the  link to more information.

Get Connected with LeadingAge
LeadingAge offers a variety of ways for members to engage with one another and get involved from listservs and networks to advisory groups, committees and board service. We encourage you to take advantage of your membership and connect with your peers to learn, share and grow. Get connected!

How to Access Your Member Benefits through My.LeadingAge.org
LeadingAge has many great tools and resources on their website created just for members. My.LeadingAge.org is a portal created specifically for members to access and take advantage of exclusive benefits. Take a look at our short video that gives you an overview of some of the more commonly used features. It will also help you through the process of updating your information and signing up for newsletters to ensure that you are receiving the content that's most relevant to you. Check out our video for more information.  
 
CMS News and Resources
MLN Connects®
2019 Novel Coronavirus Guidance

 

CMS Website Resources

New Medicare Card homepage and Provider webpage
National Government Services News
National Government Services shares important Part A information on their website. Click on www.NGSMedicare.com , determine your Medicare contract. On the Provider Specific Portal Home Page, under Latest Part A News Articles click on the View All News Articles link. Note: you may have to accept the CPT Point and Click Agreement in order to access this information.
 
NGS Medicare Educational Sessions and Training Events Calendar
Visit the National Government Services Web site for details at  NGS Medicare .
 
Medicare University Computer-Based Training Course Listings
To access the Medicare University portal page:  NGS Medicare

In the News
State Capitol closed for two more weeks until Monday, March 30
Christopher Keating | HARTFORD COURANT | MAR 12, 2020
In a historic move, the state Capitol will now remain closed for another two weeks until March 30 because of concerns about the coronavirus, according to four sources with knowledge of the issue.
 
State Rep. Christopher Rosario, a Bridgeport Democrat, used information from top lawmakers when he tweeted, "On a call earlier today with the other caucus leaders, based on the latest public health information available from the governor's office, we have decided to temporarily close the Capitol and Legislative Office Building. We plan to reopen the building on Monday, March 30.''
 
The update was confirmed by another legislator and two state employees with knowledge of the new date.
 
Both Democratic and Republican state legislators were informed on a day when it was eerily quiet at the state Capitol, marking the first day of a major cleaning that will keep the complex closed at least until March 30.
 
Crews cleaned the historic Hall of the House in the morning, and they then headed to the state Senate in the early afternoon. The crews cleaned every table, chair, bench and door knob in the Senate, including the often-touched gold-colored handrails that cordon off the Senate circle.
 
A supervisor for the private contracting crew, who refused to reveal her name, said that the ongoing work was extensive.
 
"We're not cleaning. We're disinfecting,'' she said in the Senate. "We're doing a thorough, top-to-bottom disinfection.''
 
The work includes not only the state Capitol building, but the adjacent Legislative Office Building and the Old State House in downtown Hartford.
 
Armed with spray bottles and rags, the crews even cleaned the red and green buttons that all 36 senators push to record votes in the chamber.
 
In an email sent to House Democrats by Speaker Joe Aresimowicz of Berlin and Majority Leader Matt Ritter of Hartford, they said, "We are aware that this means that we will hit JF deadlines with this delay. And we are contemplating ways to continue business following this suspension. Leaders will revisit this decision next week as we have additional information.''
 
The leaders added, "We will be asking all staff to work from home during this two week closure. Additional guidance on this will be coming'' from the Office of Legislative Management, which oversees the Capitol.
 
Lawmakers have favored taking strong measures to stem the spread of the virus, particularly in the hard-hit area of lower Fairfield County.
 
"Every action taken to 'flatten the curve' of public exposure - suspending classes, cancelling public meetings and events - will help reduce the spread of this virus and the number of cases in Connecticut,'' said Sen. Alex Kasser, a Greenwich Democrat who recently changed her name from Bergstein. "This is a crisis, and we need to act accordingly to avoid worse outcomes.''
 
The top six leaders issued a statement that said, "In order to continue to take all necessary steps to protect the health and safety of the public, the General Assembly will postpone all committee meetings, public hearings, and other legislative business until March 30. Over the next two weeks, we will continue to discuss amongst each other and determine if any additional action needs to be taken."

LeadingAge Connecticut| www.leadingagect.org | 203.678.4477 

Like us on FacebookFollow us on Twitter
Use a subhead to sell the reader on continuing to read.