Use of cloth masks are acceptable for non-diagnosed or lack of confirmed exposure.
Health check on staff – temperature range has changed to 100.0 and above for staff to be sent home.
If found with fever, the staff should be working with one health care provider and LHD to determine the level of quarantine depending their symptoms and potential exposure.
Use of hydroxychloroquine
DOH is the author of this guidance – look to them for further details.
Access to COVID-19 testing for our population
Continuing to work with DOH to have our staff learn how to do the swabbing for individuals in our homes.
Also working on how to secure the test kits.
PPE
The process of working with OEM first and then working with OPWDD emergency management staff seems to be working.
Advocates are still frustrated – Let OPWDD know where there is scarcity.
In self-direction - families need additional info on how to access.
Self-Direction Guidance
OPWDD is very close to finalizing an FAQ that will be responsive to the questions that have come in.
Topics will include, retainer days, billing, communication with families, telehealth.
K Waiver Update:
Last week the NY Alliance sent out an Appendix K overview, since that time we have obtained additional information primarily related to billing, flow of funds, and shared staffing agreements which has been added to the document and highlighted in the attached version.
Federal Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Civil Rights Bulletin:
HHS has released a memo to ensure that entities covered by civil rights authorities keep in mind their obligations underlaws and regulations that prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability,age, sex, and exercise of conscience and religion in HHS-funded programs. That memo can be found here: Bulletin: Civil Rights, HIPAA, and the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
