On Monday, December 27, 2021, WHCA provided detailed information on the CDC’s recent guidance clarifying that health care personnel (HCP) could return to work earlier than previously recommended post-exposure periods. Late Monday night, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) determined that it will follow the CDC guidance. Late yesterday afternoon, DOH issued a press release confirming that Washington State would follow the CDC return to work guidelines for HCP. The DOH press release provided little additional information and merely stated that, "Changes to state recommendations go into effect immediately. Updates to the DOH website and other guidance documents will be completed soon." WHCA assisted living and skilled nursing members should follow the new CDC return to work criteria for facility staff. WHCA will provide additional information as it become available. If you have questions please email WHCA CEO Robin Dale. 

On Monday, December 27, 2021, the CDC announced a shift in isolation and quarantine recommendations for the general public. Late yesterday afternoon the Washington State Department of Health announced updates to Washington State isolation and quarantine guidance, in alignment with the newly released recommendations from the CDC. The new guidance, which applies to the general population, will shorten both the isolation and quarantine periods based on new data regarding infectiousness and the Omicron variant.  

Also on Monday, AHCA/NCAL incorrectly reported that the new quarantine guidance applies to residents. That reporting was in error.

On December 27, 2021, the Aging and Long Term-Support Administration (ALTSA) Rates Unit issued its SNF Medicaid rate calculations, along with notice that the rates will include the continuation of the $8.34 PPD COVID add-on and the $3.84 PPD inflation adjustment. A copy of the Department’s letter can be found here.

Yesterday, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) released guidance enforcing their Interim Final Rule (IFR) issued November 5, 2021, mandating the vaccine in health care settings. This rule only applies to the 25 states not covered under the injunction issued by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. 

This guidance does not apply to the following states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, and Wyoming.   

The QSO memo specific to nursing homes outlines the requirements that long term care providers must meet in order to be in compliance with this rule. AHCA/NCAL strongly encourages providers to review the QSO memo in full. Read more. 

As noted in a recent article by Argentum, experts warn that many people prescribed Pfizer's or Merck's new COVID-19 drugs will need to be carefully monitored by doctors and pharmacists, as reported by NBC News. The FDA authorized Pfizer's antiviral pill Paxlovid for mild to moderate COVID in people as young as 12 with underlying conditions that elevate the risk of hospitalization and death from the coronavirus. Yet ritonavir, one of Paxlovid's two constituents, could induce severe or life-threatening interactions with widely used medications like blood thinners and certain antidepressants. Ritonavir slows the body's processing of the active antiviral nirmatrelvir by suppressing a liver enzyme, and helps it remain at a therapeutic level longer. When Paxlovid is combined with other medications that are also metabolized by the enzyme, the main concern is that ritonavir may ramp up the co-administered drugs to toxic levels. The FDA also does not recommend the drug for people with severe kidney or liver disease.

Given experts' concerns about the potential side effects of Merck's molnupiravir, the FDA has also limited its use to adults, and only in situations in which other authorized treatments, including monoclonal antibodies, are inaccessible or are not "clinically appropriate." Read more here.

To learn more about what you can do to protect yourselves and your residents, AHCA/NCAL invites you to join HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra and other Senior COVID-19 Response Leaders for a Virtual Town Hall – co-sponsored by AHCA/NCAL, LeadingAge, and SEIU – to discuss the latest news on the Omicron variant of COVID-19 and the impact of boosters for residents and staff. 

The Virtual Town Hall will be held on Thursday, December 30, at 8:00 AM PST. When it is time, please join the Virtual Town Hall at HHS.gov/Live

This meeting will have American Sign Language and Closed Captioning available. If there are any other accommodations that would make this meeting accessible to you, please reach out to HHSIEA@hhs.gov. Please note, this Town Hall will be recorded. 

Please email COVID19@ahca.org for questions, or visit ahcancal.org/coronavirus for more information.

AHCA/NCAL is hosting a members-only webinar to help providers understand how to comply with OSHA’s vaccine and testing requirements before the January 9 effective date. The webinar will feature Sarah Skubas, attorney with Jackson Lewis, who will outline the steps providers need to take. 

Title: OSHA's Vaccine and Testing Mandate Now Applies to LTC: Find Out What Steps to Take Before the January 9 Effective Date 

When: January 6, 2022, at 12:00 noon PST 

Registration is limited so be sure to reserve your spot as soon as possible. Register here. This webinar is restricted to AHCA/NCAL facility members. A recording will be available shortly after. 

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.