COVID-19 UPDATE #201
October 29, 2021
ADMISSIONS INCENTIVE FOR HOSPITAL DISCHARGES TO NURSING HOMES IS EXTENDED
In an amended Dear Administrator letter from August 9, 2021, now dated October 29, 2021, skilled nursing providers are informed that the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) Home and Community Services (HCS) Division received approval to extend the incentives to skilled nursing facilities that accept new resident admissions from acute hospitals through December 31, 2021. The criteria for the new admissions remains the same. If you have questions or need clarification on the admission incentives, please email SNFAdmissionIncentive@dshs.wa.gov.
DSHS UPDATES SNF PROVIDERS ON NURSING FACILITY COVID UNITS
In a Dear Administrator letter dated October 28, 2021, skilled nursing providers are informed that the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) has contracted with multiple skilled nursing facilities to establish dedicated units to care for residents with a confirmed COVID-19+ diagnosis. The intent of establishing these units is to allow residents with a COVID-19+ diagnosis to move to a setting where they can receive appropriate care in an environment where there will be less risk of COVID-19 virus transmission to other residents and staff.

Effective November 1, 2021, multiple nursing facilities across the state will have dedicated COVID-19+ units. These units will be available through December 31, 2021. The letter states the criteria that facilities must meet to be a nursing facility COVID unit.

Entities seeking admission for a resident(s) into a COVID-19 unit should contact the nursing facility directly to coordinate on the admission process. Once a resident has recovered and has met the recommended COVID-19 recovery criteria, they will return to their original nursing facility or other residential facility. For contract or programmatic questions regarding the COVID-19 units, please email Stephanie VanPelt.
NOTICE OF RULES WORKSHOPS: EMERGENCY TO PERMANENT RULES
The Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission (commission) filed a CR-101 on September 17, 2021, under WSR 21-19-104 for WAC 246-840-365, 246-840-367, 246-840-533, and 246-840-930. The commission will consider amendments to specific credential and license requirements for Nurse Technicians (NT), Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN), Registered Nurses (RN), and Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners (ARNP) in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and the critical demand for healthcare professionals.

Two virtual public rules workshops will be held. Click on either link below to join the meetings:
Dial In (564) 999-2000 | Phone Conference ID 150 743 533#
Dial In (564) 999-2000 | Phone Conference ID 234 176 015#
DOH PSYSTART RESPONDER TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES
The Washington State Department of Health’s Behavioral Health Group is pleased to offer November trainings for PsySTART Responder (PsySTART-R). PsySTART-R is an evidence-based method for healthcare workers, first responders, and healthcare systems to build resilience, anticipate and track stressors, and develop individualized coping plans during critical incidents. After training, individuals set up their personal PsySTART account online, allowing them to track and graph their exposure to certain events that are more predictive of psychological risk, and set up a personal coping plan to address the risks. Only the individual can see and access their triage information. Note: Users may need to update their accounts after system updates occur.

Additionally, organizational leads can access de-identified, aggregated information on how their staff are doing and their risk levels. This information can be tracked to identify trends in real time, allowing the organization to modify levels of support and offer early intervention as needed. This provides situational awareness and builds resilience within the organization.

Training Details
  • No cost to you or your organization
  • Held virtually in Zoom Webinar
  • No more than 30 minutes
  • Taught by professionals with disaster response expertise

Training Dates
To register, please select one of the dates below:
ADDITIONAL COVID-19 BOOSTERS APPROVED
Following Emergency Use Authorizations from the Food and Drug Administration this week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provided updated recommendations for COVID-19 booster shots.  

COVID-19 booster shots are now recommended for the following groups of individuals who received a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, at 6 months or more after their initial series:​ 

Additionally, for those who are 18 and older that received the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine two or more months ago, a booster shot is recommended. Eligible individuals can get a booster shot of a different brand if they choose to do so as the CDC is now allowing for mixing and matching product for the booster shot. 

The CDC has created a webpage to help long term care providers access the booster dose. Providers should work with their long term care pharmacies to gain access to the booster dose. If you are having trouble accessing the vaccine, please contact your state or local health department’s immunization program. The appropriate contact for each immunization program can be found here. 

As a reminder, the CDC has noted that the COVID-19 vaccine and the influenza vaccinations can be coadministered in cases where an individual is eligible for both vaccinations. 
AHCA/NCAL SENDS LETTER TO FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION ON STAFF AGENCY PRICE GOUGING
The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) recently sent a letter to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chairwoman Lina Khan, requesting assistance with an anticompetitive practice with direct care staffing agencies.

In the letter, AHCA/NCAL President and CEO Mark Parkinson describes how the COVID-19 pandemic has spurred an unprecedented workforce crisis within the long term care sector. Providers are doing all that they can to hire and recruit workers, including sign-on bonuses, wage increases and referral bonuses. Amid these circumstances, direct care staffing agencies are charging exorbitant prices to long term care facilities that need workers. 

AHCA/NCAL requests that the FTC use its authority to investigate this price gouging and take appropriate action to protect long term care facilities. Read the full letter here.
ENSPIRE STUDY SEEKS PARTICIPANTS AND OFFERS INCENTIVES
Kaiser Permanente has launched the ENSPIRE study to improve staff COVID-19 vaccination response in long term care. Currently, they are seeking participation in the study, and they are offering incentives to both facilities and individual employees who engage in the study.

While the COVID-19 vaccine is highly effective in preventing illness and limiting spread of the virus, some workers at long term care facilities may have concerns about getting the vaccine for themselves and encouraging others to get it, too. The ENSPIRE project will work with staff in long term care facilities to understand what kinds of communications help increase vaccine confidence and booster uptake.

If you are interested in participating, please complete this brief survey to determine if you qualify for the study. The ENSPIRE team may also reach out to facilities by mail, email, or phone to find out if they are willing to participate. If you have questions or would like additional information, please email the study team or call them at (206) 287-4307.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
WHCA continues to post resources and information as it becomes available on our website. If you have questions or need additional information, please call the WHCA office at (800) 562-6170.