CMS’s QSO 20-38-NH memo requires facilities to monitor their county positivity rate every other week (e.g., first and third Monday of every month) and adjust the frequency of performing staff testing according to the table on page 5 of QSO 20-38. In September, the first Monday is September 7 and the third Monday is September 21. Facilities would start with these dates for monitoring. Facilities should use their county positivity rate in the prior week as the trigger for staff testing frequency. The facility would start September 7. We have confirmed this start date with RCS, and we have that confirmation in writing. The next monitoring check date would be September 21. Facilities should use their county positivity rate in the prior week as the trigger for staff testing frequency. County prevalence rates can be found here beginning September 7, and should be reviewed the first and third Monday of each month. The CMS county prevalence data is the only data that should be used to determine the positivity rate in your county. A thorough summary of testing and reporting requirements is available here. 

Staff testing should not be delayed due to the failure of CMS to provide you with an antigen testing machine. Depending upon the county positivity data that will be made available on September 7, 2020, you may have to begin testing on Monday, September 7. If you have not yet received an antigen testing machine, or you have not received adequate testing supplies for the machines, you should begin making arrangements now to conduct PCR testing of staff, contractors, and volunteers beginning next week. A step-by-step guide to beginning a testing program is available here.

Facilities conducting tests under a Washington Department of Health Medical Test Site (CLIA certificate of waiver) are subject to regulations that require laboratories to report data for all testing completed, for each individual tested. However, at this time it is our understanding those reporting mechanisms are not in place. DSHS will be working with DOH this week to work out the reporting process to LHJs and DOH and how data elements and information required could be collected and reported given its critical importance to public health efforts. In the interim, maintain a facility log that contains all the reporting information within the HHS Lab Reporting Guidelines. Required data elements are found here. This data must be reported within 24 hours of test completion, on a daily basis, to the appropriate state or local public health department, based on the individual’s residence. Providers need to record within these time frames for facility records until the reporting methodology is established. Continue to report to the Department CRU hotline, ALTSA reporting portal, and CDC NHSN. Continue to notify the LHJ of any outbreak.  

Routine testing must be conducted of staff according to the table below based on the facility’s county positivity rate in the prior week. As noted above, county-level positivity rates will be available at the following website starting September 7, 2020. Routine testing of residents is not recommended unless a resident leaves the facility routinely.

Step One

If you have questions on the new skilled nursing testing requirements, please email Elena Madrid or call her at (800) 562-6170, extension 105.

Last night, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that private-pay assisted living/memory care providers will be eligible to apply for CARES Act Provider Relief Funds under the current Phase 2 General Distribution round of funding. Today, HHS, through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), is announcing assisted living facilities may now apply for funding. This announcement bolsters the Trump administration’s commitment to support health care providers in addressing both the economic harm and additional expenses caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This funding was made possible through the bipartisan CARES Act and the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act.

Like other providers applying for Phase 2 funding, eligible assisted living communities will receive two percent (2%) of their annual revenue from patient care and will have until September 13, 2020, to begin their application by entering their Tax Identification Number (TIN) for validation. Please visit the Provider Relief Fund web page which includes previously-recorded Phase 2 application webinars, frequently asked questions, and other information on how to apply through the recently-simplified application process. AHCA/NCAL and Argentum are both pursuing conversations with HHS to provide specific details to help with your potential applications and the possibility of a deadline extension. 

The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced yesterday that the federal government plans to ship rapid COVID-19 tests to assisted living communities across the country. The tests will come from a supply of 150 million ordered from test maker Abbott Laboratories and are expected to be delivered in the coming two to three weeks. As we learn more about these tests and shipments, we will keep our members informed.

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.