Coronavirus Update #141
Updated MDH Guidance; FY21 QA Memo and Forms; CDC Updates,
AHCA Updates; Upcoming CDC and CMS Webinars
Updated Outbreaks Guidance and Outdoor Visits Allowed

This afternoon the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) released updated guidance for "Preparing for and Responding to COVID-19 in Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Facilities." This update incorporates new CDC guidance.

MDH also shared new guidance that allows for limited outdoor visitation for Long-Term Care Facilities, regardless of where they are in the process of relaxing restrictions. For additional information, please see the CMS FAQs on Nursing Home Visitation.
QA Forms FY21 and QA Memo

The Maryland Department of Health (MDH) recently shared this memorandum to nursing facility administrators regarding Quality Assessment Reporting and Payment for Fiscal Year 2021. Please review the memo and forms in detail.



Questions regarding completion of the report may be directed to Darlene Jeffreyes, Program Specialist, at (410) 767-1453 or [email protected]. Questions regarding payment remittance may be directed to Raquel Robinson, at (410) 767-5427 or at [email protected].
CDC Updates Transmission Based Precautions, Duration of Isolation, and Return to Work Criteria 

On July 17, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) posted substantial changes to the transmission-based precautions , duration of isolation and return to work criteria . As the CDC continues to learn more about the COVID-19 virus, they continue to revise prior guidance.

Other COVID-19 Updates

  • NHSN Updates Instructions for Completing the Supplies and Personal Protective Equipment Pathway: Download the updated instructions and read more to find a summary from AHCA/NCAL. Read More

  • PPE Supplier List: Download AHCA/NCAL's updated resource to connect with vetted suppliers. 
Resources for Frontline Workers in LTC Facilities

Below are three documents regarding free counseling to frontline workers in nursing homes and long term care facilities. Please review this documents and share with your teams.



Registration Is Now Open for the
AHCA/NCAL Virtual Convention!

October 8, 15, and 22

The past few months have been full of unprecedented challenges to the long term and post-acute care sector. That's why it's more important than ever that we gather for the 71st AHCA/NCAL Virtual Convention & Expo to review the past year, recognize the heroic work that you and your staff have done, and design solutions for what lies ahead.

Join your colleagues as we come together to reflect, share, and learn.
Is Your Nursing Home Ready to Handle the Demands of the COVID-19 Pandemic? Assessing Readiness: Advice from the CDC

In this session, CDC staff will discuss the COVID-19 Infection Control Assessment and Response (ICAR) tool that was developed to support nursing homes preparing for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Health departments, QIN-QIOs and other partners can use this tool to help assess infection prevention practices and guide quality improvement activities through technical assistance to providers. During the discussion, the CDC will share examples of ways that providers and partners have worked together to identify opportunities and strategies to improve Infection Prevention Control (IPC) implementation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

DETAILS
Date: Thursday, July 23, 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.

The webcast audio will stream through your computer speakers. For the best experience, be sure to have headphones or your volume turned up. We recommend closing any other applications that may be open, especially those that use up bandwidth.
 
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 CMS/CDC Nursing Home COVID-19 Training is brought to you by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the QIO Program, a national network of Quality Innovation Network-Quality Improvement Organizations (QIN-QIOs) serving every state and territory.

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 .
CMS COVID-19 Stakeholder Engagement Calls

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.

Calls recordings and transcripts are posted on the CMS podcast page.
 
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, July 21st at 5:00 – 6:00 PM Eastern
Toll Free Attendee Dial In: 833-614-0820; 
Access Passcode: 7477995
 
Additional Office Hours:
Tuesday, July 28th at 5:00 – 6:00 PM Eastern
Toll Free Attendee Dial In: 833-614-0820; 
Access Passcode: 1492795
 
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 (twice a month on Tuesday at 3:00 PM Eastern)
Tuesday, July 21st at 3:00 – 3:30 PM Eastern
Toll Free Attendee Dial-In: 833-614-0820; 
Access Passcode: 6080197
 
Nursing Homes (twice a month on Wednesday at 4:30 PM Eastern)
Wednesday, July 22nd t 4:30 – 5:00 PM Eastern
Toll Free Attendee Dial-In: 833-614-0820; 
Access Passcode: 1143564
 
Dialysis Organizations (twice a month on Wednesday at 5:30 PM Eastern)
Wednesday, July 22nd at 5:30 – 6:00 PM Eastern
Toll Free Attendee Dial-In: 833-614-0820; 
Access Passcode: 7692208
 
Nurses (twice a month on Thursdays at 3:00 PM Eastern)
Thursday, July 23rd at 3:00 – 3:30 PM Eastern
Toll Free Attendee Dial-In: 833-614-0820; 
Access Passcode: 7971869
 
Lessons from the Front Lines: COVID-19 (twice a month on Fridays at 12:30 – 2:00 PM Eastern)

Lessons from the Front Lines calls are a joint effort between CMS Administrator Seema Verma, FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn, MD, and the White House Coronavirus Task Force. Physicians and other clinicians are invited to share their experience, ideas, strategies, and insights with one another related to their COVID-19 response. There is an opportunity to ask questions of presenters.

Next Lessons from the Front Lines Save the Date:
Friday, August 7th at 12:30 – 2:00 PM Eastern
Toll Free Attendee Dial-In and web link will be provided soon
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.