COVID-19 UPDATE #163
June 11, 2021
HHS RELEASED UPDATED PRF REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
Today the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released updated reporting requirements for recipients of Provider Relief Fund (PRF) payments. With this announcement, HHS expands the amount of time providers will have to report information, aims to reduce burdens on smaller providers, and extends key deadlines for expending PRF payments for recipients who received payments after June 30, 2020.

Some key updates include:
  • The period of availability of funds is based on the date the payment is received (rather than requiring all payments be used by June 30, 2021, regardless of when they were received).
  • Recipients are required to report for each Payment Received Period in which they received one or more payments exceeding, in the aggregate, $10,000 (rather than $10,000 cumulatively across all PRF payments).
  • Recipients will have a 90-day period to complete reporting (rather than a 30-day reporting period).
  • The PRF Reporting Portal will open for providers to start submitting information on July 1, 2021.

Summary of Reporting Requirements
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ISSUES GUIDANCE REGARDING SOURCE CONTROL IN HEALTHCARE SETTINGS
In DOH Interim Guidance for SARS-CoV-2 Source Control in Healthcare Settings dated May 19, 2021, the Department of Health (DOH) defines source control and describes how source control should be used in healthcare settings. The document further describes the differences between source control and PPE. For questions related to this document, please contact the DOH HAI-Team.
AHCA/NCAL TO HOST OSHA EMERGENCY TEMPORARY STANDARD WEBINAR ON JUNE 16
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS) to address exposure to COVID-19 to workers in healthcare settings. This healthcare ETS applies, with some exceptions, to settings where any employee provides healthcare services or healthcare support services. AHCA/NCAL is reviewing the ETS and the implications for skilled nursing facilities, assisted living communities, and Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICFs/IID). The ETS addresses topics including but not limited to: 
  • Development and implementation of a COVID-19 plan 
  • Personal protective equipment
  • Physical distancing and barriers 
  • Ventilation 
  • Recordkeeping 
  • Patient screening 
  • Cleaning and disinfection 

AHCA/NCAL will host a members-only webinar on Wednesday, June 16, at 12:00 NOON PST to review the ETS and the implications for members. Washington will develop its own rules, and those rules will likely be in line with OSHA rules. Providers will gain insight on what could be coming as rules are developed in Washington.

Please register for the webinar in advance. To help best prepare, please submit questions in advance through Survey Monkey. Questions submitted at least 24 hours in advance will be addressed during the webinar. If questions are not answered, AHCA/NCAL will follow up with responses following the webinar.
ANNOUNCEMENT FROM CREDENTIA AND THE WA NURSING CARE QUALITY ASSURANCE COMMISSION
Beginning June 15, 2021, CNA candidates will have two options for taking the written part of the Washington Nurse Aide exam. The two options are:
  • Schedule at a Pearson VUE Authorized Testing (CBT) Center.
  • Schedule an online proctored exam* via OnVUE. 

Candidates must pass a system check on the computer they will use to take the exam before they register. If the computer does not pass the system check before the candidate registers and the candidate can’t complete the exam, they won’t get a refund.

Register from your Pearson Credential Management (PCM) account. For information about taking the exam online, visit OnVUE online proctoring. Call Pearson VUE customer service at 888-252-8712 or email pearsonvuecustomerservice@pearson.com
COMAGINE TO OFFER WEBINAR SERIES ON INFECTION PREVENTION SUSTAINABILITY
Comagine Health’s Infection Prevention Sustainability Webinar Series for LTC Clinical and Non-Clinical Settings, Session 1, begins on June 23. Please join Comagine Health for the first session in a two-part Infection Prevention Sustainability Webinar Series as we review top reasons for citations in clinical and non-clinical areas of the skilled nursing facility during surveys. The goal of this series is to train staff to see through the “eyes of a surveyor” so they take the knowledge gained to correct observed deficiencies in their own building and train staff on circumstances that could be cited for noncompliance with infection prevention and control practices in clinical and non-clinical areas. For more information and to register, click here.
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.