Coronavirus Update #127
HFAM Update, Redetermination Extension, CMS Webinar on PPE Strategies
Money Follows the Person Update, and Additional Reminders
Friends:

Thanks for all you and your teams do to provide quality care and to save lives as we battle COVID-19. A Maryland Department of Health webinar regarding relaxing restrictions for long-term care took place today and we wanted to provide a few quick updates. We will share the call recording and presentation once it becomes available, as well as any additional guidance or clarification.

Reopening General Update: Much of the reopening guidelines are built upon CMS’ “ Nursing home reopening recommendations for state and local officials.” Reopening of SNFs will be done slowly, safely, and in a phased way. Some restrictions will NOT be relaxed for the foreseeable future. This includes precautions like universal masking, eye protection, daily resident screening, and cohorting of confirmed and suspected cases. Some reopening criteria includes: No outbreak, no staffing shortages, universal source control, physical distancing, hand hygiene, sufficient PPE. Centers must report to local health department to attest to compliance with all prerequisites for reopening.

Testing: Centers must test staff weekly and must test symptomatic residents. If there are detected cases, then everyone (all residents/patients/staff) must be tested. Centers must also have written procedures for staff/residents who refuse testing; these procedures are up to the center, but must be documented. Again, the State is logistically and financially covering testing until August 1. The University of Maryland Medical School Lab will be the primary (but not exclusive) lab for SNF testing. Col. Allely’s team is currently working with the University of Maryland School of Medicine laboratory to register all facilities. The University of Maryland Lab will contact each center to establish a relationship and get an updated roster. It is important to keep all rosters complete and accurate – continue to update them as needed.

Note on Assisted Living: Reopening guidance for ALs is forthcoming and should be shared later this week.

Reopening guidance documents and others are available at:



AHCA/NCAL UPDATE
We are entering into an anticipated period of increased federal oversight. Not all oversight is bad. The CMS commission seems collaborative and focused in a positive way. AHCA/NCAL continues to push for regulatory reforms and targeted aid to COVID-19 hotspots in our sector, as well as broad assisted living campus financial relief. In Maryland and across the nation we are entering into phase of increased state oversight, state budget review and adjustment, and increased legislative activity. HFAM continues to work actively behind the scenes on this front, it will be a grueling marathon and not a sprint. While the challenges are daunting, the collaborative opportunities will also be profound and historic.

Again, deep thanks for all you do!  Please continue to:

  • Coordinate with the State and TEST.
  • Appreciate, support, and over communicate with your care teams.
  • Over communicate with families, residents, patients and staff.
  • Operate DRIVEN by your infectious disease protocol.
  • Execute your observation and isolation beds.
  • Work closely with your acute-care hospital partners and home health partners.

Be well,
Joe DeMattos
President and CEO
Eligibility Redetermination Extension

This memorandum conveys the Maryland Department of Health's granting of extensions on Medicaid eligibility redeterminations until August 31, 2020.   

Redetermination and renewal deadlines set for March 31, 2020, April 30, 2020, May 31, 2020, June 30, 2020, and July 31, 2020 have been extended to August 31, 2020. Cases that are due to close on those dates have been extended to August 31st. 

Keep in mind that with the extension, you are still encouraged to complete renewals as close to the scheduled redetermination date as possible. The sooner the renewal is completed, the sooner the case can be updated. This extension gives more time but does not extend past August 31, 2020.

LTC facilities are encouraged to use the LTC E&E system ( MDTHINK) to ensure timely filing.
CMS Webinar: Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Strategies for COVID Care

Following this call, participants will understand why using personal protective equipment (PPE) is necessary for infection prevention and will be able to describe how to properly use it. Additionally, participants will learn how to use an audit tool for tracking compliance in proper use of PPE. An auditing tool will be shared with participants. Lastly, we will share promising practices and strategies for PPE supply and proper use.
DETAILS
Date: Thursday, June 25, 2020
Time: 4:00 – 5:00 PM ET
Advance Registration Required: Register here.

Note: Once you register, you will receive an email with your individual link to join the webcast. The link you receive will only work for one user. Please forward this email to other team members if you would like them to attend so they can register.


Audience: Open to nursing home leaders, clinical and administrative staff members and others interested in nursing home infection prevention in the era of COVID-19.

Series Description: The National Nursing Home Training Series is brought to you by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the QIO Program, a national network of Quality Innovation Network-Quality Improvement Organizations (QIN-QIOs) serving every state and territory.

Meet the Speakers:
Jane Brock, MD, MSPH
Medical Director
Telligen
 
Sherry Longacre, MS, RN
Sr. Quality Improvement Facilitator
Telligen

Invitations are distributed weekly for each training in the series. Sign up here for updates .

Miss a training? View recordings, slides and resources on QIOProgram.org .
Money Follows the Person Update

Earlier this month, there was a MFP Stakeholders Meeting. Below are a few takeaways and updates:

  • The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have issued guidelines regarding the transitioning out of a nursing facility, into a safe non-congregate setting during the COVID-19 crisis. The guidelines enable MDH to work with families during this state of emergency.  

  • Residents who transition during COVID 19 will not lose their Medical Assistance eligibility and the Department will assist with nursing facility placement when residents are ready to return to institutional care. MDH will not be able to guarantee placement at the originating site but will work with families and other state agencies throughout the process.


  • Stakeholders who may require assistance relating to the nursing home to community transitions via Home and Community-Based Waiver may contact the below. Email is the best form of communication at this time.




Question: If a MFP participant leaves a nursing home for safety reasons because of Covid-19 to live with family (they haven't been discharged from the nursing home and they continue to have long term care Medicaid) and they subsequently transition to the community via a Medicaid waiver. Would they be MFP eligible meaning the nursing home would continue to be their qualified residence despite the technicality that they're living with family members?

CMS Guidance:  Yes. An individual may temporarily leave a nursing home for safety reasons because of the COVID-19 public health emergency and qualify to participate in the MFP program. An individual must continue to have institutional long-term care during the temporary absence from a nursing facility and must meet all other eligibility requirements for MFP participation.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding this information, please email Wayne Reed at [email protected]
CMS COVID-19 Stakeholder Engagement Calls – Week of 6/22/2020

CMS hosts varied recurring stakeholder engagement sessions to share information related to the agency’s response to COVID-19. These sessions are open to members of the healthcare community and are intended to provide updates, share best practices among peers, and offer attendees an opportunity to ask questions of CMS and other subject matter experts.

Call details are below. Conference lines are limited so you are highly encouraged to join via audio webcast, either on your computer or smartphone web browser. You are welcome to share this invitation with your colleagues and professional networks. These calls are not intended for the press.

 
CMS COVID-19 Office Hours Calls (Tuesdays at 5:00 – 6:00 PM Eastern)

Office Hour Calls provide an opportunity for hospitals, health systems, and providers to ask questions of agency officials regarding CMS’s temporary actions that empower local hospitals and healthcare systems to: Increase Hospital Capacity – CMS Hospitals Without Walls; Rapidly Expand the Healthcare Workforce; Put Patients Over Paperwork; and Further Promote Telehealth in Medicare.

This week’s Office Hours:
Tuesday, June 23rd at 5:00 – 6:00 PM Eastern
Toll Free Attendee Dial In: 833-614-0820; 
Access Passcode: 5775248

Weekly COVID-19 Care Site-Specific Calls

CMS hosts weekly calls for certain types of organizations to provide targeted updates on the agency’s latest COVID-19 guidance. One to two leaders in the field also share best practices with their peers. There is an opportunity to ask questions of presenters if time allows.

Home Health and Hospice (2nd and 4th Tuesdays at 3:00 PM Eastern)
Tuesday, June 23rd at 3:00 – 3:30 PM Eastern
Toll Free Attendee Dial-In: 833-614-0820; 
Access Passcode: 3676539
 
Nursing Homes (2nd and 4th Wednesdays at 4:30 PM Eastern)
Wednesday, June 24th at 4:30 – 5:00 PM Eastern
Toll Free Attendee Dial-In: 833-614-0820; 
Access Passcode: 3089577
 
Dialysis Organizations (2nd and 4th Wednesdays at 5:30 PM Eastern)
Wednesday, June 24th at 5:30 – 6:00 PM Eastern
Toll Free Attendee Dial-In: 833-614-0820; 
Access Passcode: 6494855
 
Nurses (2nd and 4th Thursdays at 3:00 PM Eastern)
Thursday, June 25th at 3:00 – 3:30 PM Eastern
Toll Free Attendee Dial-In: 833-614-0820; 
Access Passcode: 9496814
Did you miss HFAM's previous alerts?

Visit our website to view all previous HFAM alerts, as well as guidance
from our federal and state partners.
Thank you.

We cannot thank you enough for the dedication and diligence in doing all that you can for the residents in your communities. HFAM continues to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic with our state and national partners and will do all we can to support you during this time.