COVID-19 UPDATE #277

December 16, 2022

To remain in compliance with the Nurse Aide 1135 waiver, Washington State is required to provide CMS monthly reports. As a part of this monthly report process, the state needs to compile information from each CMS certified nursing home. DSHS ALTSA is requesting your assistance in this process by completing this three question survey for the month of December. If we are unable to provide the requested information to CMS, Washington State may lose this critically important 1135 waiver and the ability to allow NARs to continue working in a nursing home beyond four months while they complete the certification process.

Residential Care Services (RCS) created trainings for Assisted Living and Skilled Nursing Facility providers titled, “End of Proclamation & Public Health Emergency –What Now?” The trainings outline what must be done to meet regulatory requirements related to infection prevention and control in AL and SNF now that the public health emergency and pandemic related Governor proclamations have ended. You may access the AL training template here and the SNF training template here.

The Biden Administration announced a COVID-19 Winter Preparedness Plan. The plan expands access to testing, vaccines and treatments, preparing for the impact of variants, cases and hospitalizations in local communities, and protecting the most high-risk Americans, including residents of nursing homes and other congregate living facilities. Strategies identified that impact the LTC community include: 

• Releasing a winter playbook for nursing homes and LTC facilities. The playbook will summarize actions facilities can take to reduce serious illness, prevent hospitalizations and deaths, and minimize disruptions. This will focus on increasing vaccinations, ensuring timely use of treatments and improving indoor air quality.  
• Expanding the pool of providers that may administer the COVID-19 vaccine. As a result of advocacy by AHCA/NCAL, CDC is updating the pharmacy provider agreements to allow nursing home staff to administer the vaccine. HHS is also working with states and QIOs to help facilitate vaccine clinics. 
• Reaching out to governors on how nursing homes in their state are doing with resident vaccination rates.  
• Encouraging hospitals to vaccinate patients before discharge. As a result of advocacy by AHCA/NCAL, Secretary Beccerra has called on the hospitals to vaccinate patients prior to discharge to LTC settings. 

This is part of the Biden Administration’s focus on reducing the impact of COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses this winter season.  

It is recommended to also view an AHCA webinar with Dr. Jha and several AHCA experts who discuss three steps to address respiratory viruses this winter, available on ahcancalED.  

On December 14, 2022, the CDC Health Alert Network distributed a CDC Health Advisory on interim guidance for clinicians to prioritize antiviral treatment of influenza in the setting of reduced availability of oseltamivir. View the full alert here.

The Tacoma Pierce County Health Department also shared information on the management of Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) shortage.