COVID Update #243
Second Doses on the Way, MDH LTC Webinar Recap, New E&E Sign-On,
Reminder about Supplemental Schedule, Visitation Guidance Update Reminder
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Urgent Action Required: 2nd Doses are on the Way
Beginning Thursday, March 18, 2021, the Community and Facility Initiatives (Congregate Living) Team of the Maryland Department of Health will be visiting facilities to administer 2nd doses of the COVID-19 Pfizer vaccine to current residents and staff who have not received their 2nd dose.
Please see this detailed schedule indicating the date and time range CFI Technical Assistance Teams (TATs) will be visiting facilities.
- Please anticipate a call from the TAT administering your second doses 24 to 48 hours in advance of your visit:
- Please be prepared to re-confirm your resident and staff vaccination counts, so we can ensure no vaccine goes to waste.
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Prior to the TAT team’s arrival: Please print out copies of the CVS and Walgreens completed consent forms that you have from the pharmacies’ prior visits to your facility for each individual that needs a 2nd dose of the vaccine. The TAT team will need this copy or the individual will not get a shot. The consent forms should be complete from the first pharmacy visit but please check the consent forms to make certain they were fully completed, signed and dated at that time.
Thank you so much for your patience with multiple surveys and calls in advance over the past few weeks as MDH needed to take a precise census of doses required and prepared our schedule accordingly.
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MDH Webinar Recap
Yesterday, the Maryland Department of Health held a webinar call to update the long-term care sector on COVID-19 developments and best practices. The call was recorded, in case you were unable to join or would like to review the topics discussed, which included:
- Maryland Epi Updates
- CDC Updates
- Ebola Updates
- FAQs
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New LTC E&E Sign-On
The way to sign onto the MD THINK E&E system will change Monday March 15, 2021. This is part of an expansion of the system for E&E Waivers and various social services programs.
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REMINDER: COVID-19 Revenue Supplemental Schedule
Per this Memo
"The COVID-19 supplemental schedule must be completed for cost report periods ending in calendar years 2020 and 2021. The due date for the supplemental schedule is:
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For cost report periods ending in calendar year 2020, the due date is June 30, 2021.
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For cost report periods ending in calendar year 2021, the due date is the same as the cost report due date. However, the earliest due date for any supplemental schedule is June 30, 2021."
March 3 Webinar
The Maryland Department of Health and its contractor, Myers and Stauffer LC, held a webinar on March 3, 2021 to review the COVID-19 Revenue Supplemental Schedule and take provider questions. The webinar was recorded and may be viewed by clicking this link.
If you have any questions that are not covered in the FAQ document, please send them to jdresslar@mslc.com.
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REMINDER: CMS Revises Memo on Nursing Home Visitors
On Wednesday, March 10 CMS released revisions to QSO memo on visitation (20-39-NH), incorporating vaccination status. The memo improves the ability for nursing home residents to receive visitors. CMS emphasizes the importance of maintaining infection prevention practices, given the continued risk of COVID-19 transmission. CMS's changes were based on new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
As we shared yesterday, the language from the February 11 Maryland orders will aid in the implementation of the CMS guidance here in Maryland. See page 9 (section 9A), relevant section bolded:
As of March 1, 2021, the following subsection applies to each individual nursing home:
i. All nursing homes should follow the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) guidance on nursing home visitation regarding COVID-19 (QSO-20-39-NH) or as updated by CMS. Either MDH or a local health department may direct a facility to a more restrictive set of conditions at any point.
That said, it will be important that Maryland guidance is clear and consistent relative to this point in the CMS guidance (on page 3):
Facilities should allow indoor visitation at all times and for all residents (regardless of vaccination status), unless certain scenarios arise that would limit visitation due to a high risk of COVID-19 transmission, including: “Residents with confirmed COVID-19 infection, whether vaccinated or unvaccinated until they have met the criteria to discontinue transmission-based precautions”
The Bottom Line: Federal and state orders and guidelines over the last year rightfully limited visitation, nursing homes complied with those government orders, and lives were saved. The CMS guidance issued yesterday is excellent news. It will be important for skilled nursing and rehabilitation centers to allow indoor visitation and increase compassionate care visits.
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The 2021 HFAM Conference “Together We Re-Imagine” will be held in person October 4 – 7, 2021 at the Maryland Live Hotel and Casino in Hanover, Maryland. Hundreds of long-term care leaders will connect, share best practices and discuss actionable insights on how we can reflect, reform, rebuild, and revolutionize quality care. You and your teams will not want to miss this opportunity as we come together again.
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Did you miss HFAM's previous alerts?
Visit our website to view all previous HFAM alerts, as well as guidance
from our federal and state partners.
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Additional Resources and Guidance
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Thank you.
We cannot thank you enough for the dedication and diligence in doing all that you can for the residents in your communities. HFAM continues to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic with our state and national partners and will do all we can to support you during this time.
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