Coronavirus Update #163
Great News on Testing for AL and SNFs
Abbot Webinar with Details Announced

Through our partners at AHCA/NCAL, we learned today that this week the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will be sending 1 million Abbott BinaxNOW™ test kits to skilled nursing facilities and 540,000 test kits to assisted living communities certified by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) with a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment (CLIA) Certificate of Waiver.  

You are invited to a webinar on Friday, September 18 at 12:00 pm ET with HHS and Abbot to get more information on the tests themselves, including training, and use in assisted living facilities. During the webinar, Abbott will demonstrate the training tools available and representatives from the U.S. government will be online to speak about the program. 
Our understanding is that HHS will ship test kits to all ALs with CLIA Certificates of Waiver this week to be used for residents and staff. Kits will also be sent to some SNFs for use with staff. Replenishment of kits will be weekly thereafter with enough kits varying by the county the facility is located in, and based on the CMS ratings for COVID-19 test positivity in that county (red, yellow or green). HHS has also provided a training portal here. 

We have also heard that some providers have received an invoice from Abbott. AHCA/NCAL confirmed with Abbott yesterday that these were sent in error and you do NOT need to pay these invoices. Similarly, some members received information about “shipping specifications” that also include an error that they would be receiving large pallets of test kits. The amount of test kits will be based on estimates of the number of residents and staff you have in your facility and to last you for 1-2 weeks until the next shipment arrives
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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.