COVID-19 UPDATE #245
May 18, 2022
DOH CONSOLIDATES HEALTHCARE GUIDANCE INTO ONE DOCUMENT
The Department of Health (DOH) has consolidated all healthcare guidance into one document in an effort to make it easier to maintain consistency with the recommendations as well as make it easier to find the appropriate recommendations.

Guidance was updated to clarify language and to maintain consistency. Two substantive changes in recommendations are:
  • Staff should wear eye protection for all patient encounters when working in areas with substantial to high community transmission. (p. 42)
  • Nursing home residents who are not up to date with COVID-19 vaccines should be placed in quarantine on returning to the nursing home if out of the nursing home for more than 24 hours. There is no recommendation for quarantine of residents in non-nursing home LTCFs on admission or returning to the facility following a visit in the community. (p. 56)
DEAR ADMINISTRATOR LETTER INFORMS THAT CONSTRUCTION REVIEW SERVICES MUST BE USED FOR ALL CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS PRIOR TO THE END OF THE PROCLAMATION
In a Dear Administrator letter dated May 17, 2022, assisted living and skilled nursing providers are informed as we enter this new phase of the pandemic, the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) is encouraging all facilities to review their use of COVID-19 construction related waivers. Proclamations 20.36 and 20.38 suspended the requirement for a licensee, applicant, or facility to work with the Department of Health (DOH) Construction Review Services (CRS) for preliminary inspection and approval or recommendations before starting alterations or additions to an existing facility, or new construction, as well as throughout the construction process.

While proclamations 20.36 and 20.38 are still in place, DSHS is encouraging all licensees and applicants to immediately begin working with DOH CRS and DOH CON for all construction and CON related projects. This will allow facilities to get ahead of the rush once the proclamations are no longer in place. This will also ensure the facilities avoid any citations for failure to follow the requirements. If you have questions, please email the RCS Policy Unit.
DEAR ADMINISTRATOR LETTER ANNOUNCES REINSTATEMENT OF TB TESTING REQUIREMENTS JULY 1
In a Dear Administrator letter dated May 17, 2022, all providers were notified that Residential Care Services (RCS) will not be refiling emergency rules to extend the suspension of the requirements after the current emergency rules expire. Washington state is experiencing a significant increase in the number of TB cases. It is necessary to reinstate TB testing requirements to reduce the risk of illness to the vulnerable people we serve.

To be prepared to meet the TB testing requirements on July 1, 2022, RCS encourages all facilities and providers to immediately begin staff TB testing. This will allow time to meet the requirements once the emergency rules have expired and the permanent rules are reimplemented.

The following rules will be reimplemented on July 1, 2022:
  • For AFH - WACs 388-76-10265, -10285, and 10290(1)
  • For ALF - WACs 388-78A-2484, -2480(1), and 2485(1)
  • For CCRSS - WACs 388-101D-0650(1) and -0660(3)
  • For ESF - WACs 388-107-0490 and 0460(1)
  • For NH - WACs 388-97-1380, -1400, -1440, -1460, and -148

If you have questions, please email the RCS Policy Unit.
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.