In a Dear Administrator letter dated June 23, 2022, skilled nursing providers were notified of the CMS QSO-22-17-ALL memo. The memo provides guidance for RCS to complete regulatory survey for nursing home (and ICF/IID) facility staff vaccination compliance for initial certification, annual recertificaton, and complaint investigations only when alleging non-compliance with the following requirements in F888 under 42 CFR §483.80 Infection Control.

CMS expects all Medicare and Medicaid-certified facility providers’ and suppliers’ staff to be appropriately vaccinated unless exempted as required by law or delayed consistent with CDC recommendations. If you have questions, please email Molly McClintock, Nursing Home Policy Program Manager, or call her at (360) 742-6966.

In a Dear Administrator letter dated June 30, 2022, assisted living providers are notified they should begin preparing for the end of proclamation 20-10. This proclamation suspended the requirement for certain adult family home, assisted living facility, and enhanced services facility staff to complete CPR training and receive and maintain a valid CPR and first-aid card or certificate. When proclamation 20-10 goes back into effect, the following rules must be followed:

While proclamation 20.10 is still in place, the department is encouraging all licensees and applicants to immediately begin working toward compliance with these requirements. This will allow providers to get ahead of the rush once the proclamation is no longer in place. This will also help facilities and providers avoid receiving citations for failure to follow these requirements. If you have questions, please email David Chappell.

The Department of Health continues to host weekly calls for healthcare workers in long term care providing insight, resources, answers, and opportunity for feedback and concerns. Beginning July 7, they are beginning their new series that will go through October 27. If you have already registered once for these calls, you do not need to register again. Please be sure your email address is correct in the system. If you are not registered, you may do so here to receive updated participation information, slides, and reminders for these informational calls. Please note there will be no calls on July 14, July 28, August 11, or August 25.

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.