HFAM Update: USA Today and CIAN Labs
COVID Update # 339
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Friends:
We had earlier updated the HFAM Board about upcoming coverage in USA Today, as well as upcoming data reporting for MEDPAC (which is unrelated to the USA Today coverage). When AHCA announced the independent research of Clifton Larson Allen LLP last week, we widely distributed that report.
USA Today
- Investigative reporters at USA Today released a series “Dying for Care” on how nursing homes handled the COVID surge between October 2020 – February 2021.
- The piece examines cases and deaths, especially among one of the largest nursing home companies, Trilogy, and its relationships with American Healthcare REIT.
- As part of the investigation, USA Today launched a searchable facility database giving each nursing home in the country grades on deaths, infections, and staffing during this timeframe based on various government sources and methodology developed by the reporters.
- The series also includes a consumer guide with tips on how potential residents and families can search for care, what to look for, etc. and a memory wall capturing stories of those from nursing homes who died, where ongoing submissions can be made.
I Would Say This About the USA Today Coverage:
- We have been steadfast advocates and voices for quality. This is true today, was true in 2020, and will be true going forward.
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Skilled nursing and rehabilitation centers and other providers in Maryland have a tremendous and heroic story to tell about 2020 (see the MHCC Presentation).
- Much has changed since the timeframe for this report, including the distribution of life-saving vaccines. It’s time to stop cherry-picking past information and placing blame on nursing homes for a once-in-a-century global pandemic.
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Independent, academic researchers have consistently found that COVID outbreaks in nursing homes are primarily correlated with the spread of the virus in the surrounding community.
- Facility ownership, tax status, government ratings, and previous citations are not determining factors for COVID-19 outbreaks, as these studies found.
- Maryland has led the nation in vaccination rates generally, and specifically in skilled nursing and rehabilitation centers and assisted living centers.
- Visiting a center is the best way to learn about the specific services provided, ask staff, families, and residents questions, get a feel for the environment and learn about their COVID protocols.
- Today, tomorrow, and always, HFAM and our members will continue to be advocates for quality care across settings.
- Together, let’s focus on meaningful solutions that can improve the care residents receive and encourage policymakers to prioritize long-term care.
CIAN Labs:
Today, out of the blue, skilled nursing and rehabilitation centers, assisted living centers, and others in our sector have received HUGE invoices for PCR COVID tests. We, along with our colleague partners at LifeSpan and LeadingAge Maryland, are looking into this.
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Joe DeMattos
President and CEO
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CMS Updates Nursing Home Visitation and Testing Guidance
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced changes to its visitation and testing guidance. CMS has aligned the guidance within these two memos with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s new guidance separating individuals who are “up-to-date with all recommended COVID-19 vaccine doses” (i.e., having received a booster dose in addition to the primary series) versus being “fully vaccinated” (i.e., having received the one- or two-dose primary series).
The testing requirements from CMS now outline a routine testing policy that hinges on whether staff are up-to-date on their vaccination versus fully vaccinated. The visitation requirements from CMS have replaced “vaccinated” with “up-to-date with all recommended COVID-19 vaccine doses” and deleted “unvaccinated.”
Again, please review the updates to the QSO 20-38 (testing) and QSO 20-39 (visitation) guidance documents for nursing homes. The main change replaces "fully vaccinated" with "up to date" in both memos. Please review these carefully as that change will impact staff testing and some visitation requirements.
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Updates From the Maryland Department of Health
Rate Letters: Please note that updated rate letters for the 4th quarter (April 2022) FY 2022 supplemental payments have been uploaded into the MSLC Provider Web Portal.
Termination of PASRR Flexibility: Please read this notice that effective immediately, the Department has terminated the PASRR flexibilities that had been in effect since January 7, 2022. Any questions regarding this notice may be directed to Jane Sacco at jane.sacco@maryland.gov.
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