HRSA Releases ARP Rural Distribution
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) began releasing the $7.5 billion American Rescue Plan (ARP) Rural Distribution last week. ARP Rural payments are being made to providers and suppliers who have served rural Medicaid, Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and Medicare beneficiaries from January 1, 2019 through September 30, 2020.
Every eligible provider that served at least one rural Medicare, Medicaid, or CHIP beneficiary will receive funding. Eligibility for the Rural Distribution is based on the number of beneficiaries whose residency is designated as rural rather than the physical location of the provider.
Approximately 40,000 providers in 50 states, Washington, D.C., and six territories will receive ARP Rural payments. HRSA will begin distributing the Phase 4 $17 billion in mid-December.
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REMINDER! ACT NOW to Prepare for the CMS Vaccine Mandate
The deadlines for providers to meet the CMS Omnibus COVID-19 Health Care Staff Vaccination Interim Final Rule (IFR) on vaccination mandates are fast approaching.
Skilled Nursing Facilities, Nursing Facilities, and ICF-IIDs must establish a policy ensuring that all eligible staff be vaccinated for COVID-19 or request a medical or religious exemption by the following deadlines:
- Phase 1 – December 6, 2021: Staff must have received at least the first dose of a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine or a one-dose COVID-19 vaccine.
- Phase 2 – January 4, 2022: Staff must be fully vaccinated, except staff who have been granted exemptions, or those whom COVID-19 vaccination must be temporarily delayed as recommended by the CDC due to clinical precautions and considerations.
To help providers comply with this requirement, AHCA has developed a template policy and procedures on the COVID-19 vaccination mandate. In addition, AHCA hosted a member-only webinar on Monday, November 22 on religious and medical exemptions. A recording of this webinar will be available soon.
Finally, providers are encouraged to make their voices heard with CMS regarding this vaccine rule. AHCA has set up an action center with guidance for members to submit their feedback directly to CMS. Comments must be submitted by January 4, 2022.
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AHCA/NCAL Webinar on CMS Interim Final Rule on Vaccine Mandate
This Friday. December 3, AHCA/NCAL will be hosting a live, members-only webinar on the CMS Interim Final Rule on Vaccine Mandate. AHCA/NCAL Chief Medical Officer Dr. David Gifford & Vice President of Quality and Programs Courtney Bishnoi will provide a brief update the latest available information about the CMS Interim Final on Vaccine Mandates. They will then be joined by Sarah Skubas, Attorney at Law, Jackson Lewis, to answer audience questions on the vaccine mandate.
High attendance is anticipated, so members are encouraged to register early. Registration is required.
If you experience any issues with registration, please contact educate@ahca.org.
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CMS Issues 1135 Waiver for Director of Food and Nutrition Services
CMS is issuing an 1135 waiver for directors of food and nutrition services, granting an extension on certain requirements that previously would have hit a deadline of this Sunday, November 28. The 1135 waiver is for 42 CFR 483.60(a)(1) and 483.60(a)(2), which require:
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Dietitians hired or contracted with prior to November 28, 2016, to meet the specified requirements no later than 5 years after November 28, 2016, or as required by state law; and
- To designate a person to serve as the director of food and nutrition services who, for designations prior to November 28, 2016, meets the specified requirements no later than 5 years after November 28, 2016, or no later than 1 year after November 28, 2016, for designations after November 28, 2016.
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Upcoming Webinars
Hosted by AHCA/NCAL
Hosted by AHCA/NCAL
Friday, Dec. 3 at 2 PM ET
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FYI: Judge Issues Preliminary Injunction in Ten States (not Maryland) for CMS Staff Vaccine Rule
On Monday, November 29, a Federal judge in the Eastern District of Missouri issued a preliminary injunction in the case filed by Missouri and nine other states against the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) staff vaccine mandate interim final rule. This ruling applies only to the following ten states: Alaska, Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming.
There are also three other active cases filed by Texas, Florida, and a different, 14-state group (Louisiana, Montana, Arizona, Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Utah, West Virginia, Ohio, and Kentucky). The Florida request for a preliminary injunction was denied in District Court last week and an appeal has been filed. We expect rulings in the other two cases before December 6.
What does this mean?
The rule is put on temporary hold in the ten-state group led by Missouri and CMS is prevented from taking any enforcement action. There will likely be an appeal of the preliminary injunction and it may be reversed. For other states, the CMS rule is still scheduled to go into effect on December 6. Medicare providers should continue to plan and work toward a December 6 implementation date as the amount of planning and work should not be left to the last minute.
Resources to help with this mandate including template policy and procedures are available at AHCA/NCAL’s coronavirus website, located under the vaccine heading at the bottom.
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Vaccination Promotion Video
Featuring MD Speaker of the House Adrienne Jones and Healthcare Heroes - Cherie Taylor and Renee Harris!
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In our fight against the COVID-19 virus, vaccines work. The vaccines are highly effective in preventing people from getting sick or seriously ill from COVID-19 and in slowing the spread of the virus. The vaccines are the best tool we have as new, more contagious, and threatening variants of the virus, like Delta, begin to emerge.
Now is NOT a time for any of us to let down our guard – together, we must continue pushing to increase staff vaccination in the healthcare sector.
That’s why we are eternally grateful to Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates Adrienne Jones, as well as Cherie Taylor and Renee Harris of the Hebrew Home of Greater Washington for recording this HFAM public service video to help encourage people living and working in skilled nursing and rehabilitation centers and on assisted living campuses to get vaccinated—and to get the booster!
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Some behind the scenes of the making of this video!
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As Always
- Focus on what is in your control and not what is out of your control.
- Let’s get those boosters and the flu vaccine in the arms of people.
- Overcommunicate – with residents, patients, families, staff, and government partners.
- 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.
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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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