COVID-19 UPDATE #238
April 7, 2022
DEAR ADMINISTRATOR LETTER AMENDED APRIL 1 PROVIDES UPDATED FACE MASK INFORMATION FOR LTC
In a Dear Administrator letter amended April 1, 2022, all providers are notified the original letter of March 18, 2022, is amended to be consistent with the most recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) face covering recommendations including updating vaccination status from “fully vaccinated” to “up-to-date” and consideration of community transmission rates.

The letter provides the list of situations when people are not required to wear a face covering in long term care settings. Of particular note is the first one listed:
  • While working in areas not generally accessible to the public when only employees are present, but only if the employee is up-to-date with vaccination against COVID-19 (see Additional Provisions below for the meaning of ”up-to-date”) and the facility is in a county with low to moderate community transmission rates, as shown on the CDC Data Tracker.

If you have questions about face coverings or would like clarification, please email the RCS Policy Unit.
CMS RELEASES REVISED GUIDANCE ON VACCINE MANDATE IFR FOR SNF
CMS has released revised interpretive guidance for the COVID-19 vaccine mandate interim final rule (IFR). Three memoranda have been updated, including QSO-22-07-ALL-Revised, QSO-22-09-ALL-Revised, and QSO-22-11-ALL-Revised.

The revisions were made to clarify the expectations for assessing compliance with the requirement to ensure all staff are vaccinated. AHCA/NCAL has highlighted key revisions, but providers are encouraged to review the Long-Term Care and Skilled Nursing Facility Attachment A-Revised, as well as the applicable memo listed above, for detailed changes.  Read more.
ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS CAN RECEIVE SECOND COVID-19 BOOSTER SHOT AT NO COST
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced it will pay for a second COVID-19 booster shot of either the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines without cost sharing as it continues to provide coverage for this critical protection from the virus. People with Medicare pay nothing to receive a COVID-19 vaccine and there is no applicable copayment, coinsurance or deductible. People with Medicaid coverage can also get COVID-19 vaccines, including boosters, at no cost.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently updated its recommendations regarding COVID-19 vaccinations. Certain immunocompromised individuals and people ages 50 years and older who received an initial booster dose at least four months ago are eligible for another booster to increase their protection against severe disease from COVID-19. Additionally, the CDC recommends that adults who received a primary vaccine and booster dose of Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccine at least four months ago can receive a second booster dose of a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.

The COVID-19 vaccine, including the booster doses, is the best defense against severe illness, hospitalization and death from the virus. CMS continues to explore ways to ensure maximum access to COVID-19 vaccinations. More information regarding the CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Program Provider Requirements and how the COVID-19 vaccine is provided through that program at no cost to recipients is available here and through the CMS COVID-19 Provider Toolkit. People can visit vaccines.gov (English) or vacunas.gov (Spanish) to search for vaccines nearby.
COVID-19 EMERGENCY RULES UPDATE FOR ASSISTED LIVING
DSHS has filed updated emergency rules adding a fourth cohort and extending training and continuing education deadlines in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency. Download full emergency text rules here.

Training and Certification Deadlines
Continuing Education Deadlines and Application of the 12 hours of COVID On-The-Job Training
All long term care workers employed for any length of time between March 1, 2020, and February 28, 2021, are granted 12 hours of DSHS-approved continuing education credit. No physical certificate for these hours will be issued or required. The COVID-19 continuing education hours may be applied to renewal periods ending no earlier than March 1, 2020, and no later than December 31, 2021.
 
All long term care workers shall have until December 31, 2022, or 120 days from the end of the COVID-19 training waivers established by gubernatorial proclamation, whichever is later, to complete any additional CE that may have become due while training waivers were in place in excess of the 12 hours of CE granted. 

If a worker's next birthday allows fewer than 120 days after the waivers are lifted to complete required CE for their current renewal cycle (Birthdays after December 31, 2021), the worker will have 120 days from the end of training waivers to complete the required CE.

EXAMPLE: A Worker with a Birthday of January 15
If you have questions about training requirements, please email David Chappell, Program Manager for the Training and Oversight Policy Team, or call him at (360) 725-2516.
TACOMA PIERCE COUNTY HEALTH PROVIDES UPDATE FOR LTC CENTERS
The Tacoma Pierce County Health Department continues to keep long term care providers informed and updated on developments surrounding COVID-19 response in Tacoma and Pierce County. Their recent update of April 4, 2022, provides the following insight:
  • Updated testing team’s contact information for testing supplies, mobile testing, and MTS Licensure support, and upcoming webinars
  • COVID-19 Therapeutics
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.