HFAM Update
Friends:
Thank you and your teams for all you do to provide quality care to Marylanders in need.
Tomorrow 18 Genesis skilled nursing and rehabilitation centers will transition from Genesis ownership to Complete Care, Autumn Lake Healthcare, and ProMedica/HCR ManorCare. Of these companies, two currently operate in Maryland and assume operations and ownership of 13 of the 18 centers.
Yesterday I had email exchanges with the regional leadership and the center leadership of all 18 of the current Genesis centers. Today I have been in touch with leadership at Autumn Lake Healthcare, ProMedica/HCR ManorCare, and Complete Care. Complete Care is new to Maryland but not new to our sector; I am excited and optimistic about Complete Care, the care they will provide in Maryland, and their membership in HFAM. Additionally, this a.m. I was in touch with the leadership at the Maryland Hospital Association about these transitions.
Transitions can be bumpy, and while everyone involved in these transitions has been working hard for months, I think we can expect some bumps. Together, we stand with our colleagues, and we will help smooth out bumps where we can to ensure quality care to Marylanders in need.
So many times over the last year, we have Zoomed, spoke, emailed, and updated on the changing landscape of our fight against COVID-19. Today we have more traction in our fight against the virus, but the battle is not over. Essential themes in those discussions:
- Focus on what is in your control and not what is out of your control.
- Overcommunicate.
- Adapt and innovate.
- Rely on your partnerships.
- Speak up when you need help.
- Double efforts on infectious disease protocols, training, and operations.
- Take and document your action; keep a timeline.
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CLICK HERE for the Dr. Katz Video, and please see the Donning and Doffing Checklist we have been sharing.
Finally, thank you to the Maryland Daily Record for selecting me and my friend and colleague Bob Atlas from the Maryland Hospital Association as two of the 30 Power Health Care Leaders in Maryland. And congratulations to my other friends for making the list. I am blessed to do this work. Onward together!
Be well,
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Joe DeMattos
President and CEO
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In Case You Missed It
April 26th Strategies for Providers to Increase Vaccine Uptake Presentation
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MDH Webinar Recap
On, 4/29, the Maryland Department of Health held a webinar call to update the long-term care sector on COVID-19 developments and best practices. The call was recorded, in case you were unable to join or would like to review the topics discussed, which included:
Update Agenda Items:
- COVID-19 Epi Summary
- Maryland Updates
- CDC and CMS Updates
- FAQs
- Q&A
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NEW UPDATED 4/27/21:
CMS and CDC Update Guidance on Testing, Visitation, and Activities in Response to
COVID-19 Vaccination
The following key changes have now been made:
• Residents and visitors may visit without distancing and source control masks if alone in the resident’s room and the resident and visitor are fully vaccinated. If the visitor is not vaccinated, they can visit with a fully vaccinated resident alone in the resident’s room without distancing while wearing well-fitting source control masks.
• Communal dining and activities may occur without physical distancing if all residents are vaccinated.
• Vaccinated health care personnel no longer need to undergo routine testing, but should continue to be tested after exposure, during an outbreak, or if experiencing symptoms.
The new CMS and CDC guidance can be found here:
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Livanta to Begin Conducting Medicare Claim Reviews |
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Although Beneficiary and Family Centered Care - Quality Improvement Organizations (BFCC-QIOs) like Livanta routinely provide case review services for Medicare beneficiaries, claim review services are additional activities provided by BFCC-QIOs and funded by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). In 2019, CMS put claim review services on temporary hold as the agency began to modify the program for coordination by a single, national contractor.
Livanta will soon begin conducting these claim reviews for CMS, which include Short Stay Reviews, Higher-Weighted Diagnosis Related Group (HWDRG) Reviews, and other reviews, as directed by CMS. Livanta is authorized to conduct this work on a national scale, including in all 50 states, five U.S. territories, and Washington, D.C. Please click here or the link below to read Livanta’s recently published Provider Bulletin for information about this important change and other critical updates.
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Skilled Nursing Care Week
Sunday, May 9 - Saturday, May 15
The toolkit includes the following:
- Sample Press Release Template
- Sample Social Media Posts/Newsletter Content
- Sample Proclamation
- Sample Letter to the Editor
- Graphics
The Product and Planning Guide is also available for download. We encourage members to use social media to share their great ideas for NSNCW and to see what other centers are planning for this extra special week this year. Please remember to use the hashtag #NSNCW and, if you haven't already, like the NSNCW Facebook page here.
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The 2021 HFAM Conference “Together We Re-Imagine” will be held in person October 4 – 7, 2021 at the Maryland Live Hotel and Casino in Hanover, Maryland. Hundreds of long-term care leaders will connect, share best practices and discuss actionable insights on how we can reflect, reform, rebuild, and revolutionize quality care. You and your teams will not want to miss this opportunity as we come together again.
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Thank you to our current sponsors! |
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COVID-19 Resources
What you need to know.
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#Get Vaccinated
With support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the AHCA/NCAL Get Vaccinated campaign now has a dedicated website –getvaccinated.us – to help educate and encourage caregivers and staff at long-term care facilities to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
The website includes credible information from medical professionals, public health officials, and scientists to help answer common questions about the vaccines among staff members and other individuals.
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Did you miss an update?
Visit our website to view all previous HFAM alerts, as well as guidance
from our federal and state partners.
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