Coronavirus Update #48
MDH Hospital Discharge Assist, Thanks to AHCA/NCAL,
Survey Reminder
MDH Hospital Discharge Assist

Today HFAM received an important update from Dr. Tricia Nay and her team at the Office of Health Care Quality (OHCQ) regarding hard to place patient transfers from hospital acute settings to our post-acute setting.

The Maryland Department of Health has developed a Hospital Discharge Assist program. Hospital discharge planners should complete this form to request an OHCQ review of a difficult placement of a patient back to their nursing home of origin. The Office of Health Care Quality will be reviewing the requests seven days a week, 6:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. If you have any questions, please send an email to mdh.dischargeassist@maryland.gov
AHCA/NCAL

We wanted to reflect and appreciate the diligent and tireless work of the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL). Governor Mark Parkinson and his team have been proactively doing all they can to advocate, communicate, and influence critical federal regulatory changes and secure essential federal funding for our sector's fight against COVID-19. 

While we are working day and night here in Maryland, they are also doing so in Washington DC to get your frontline teams the resources they need and to tell our story in the media. We specifically want to thank Clif Porter and his team, whom we are in touch with often and strategically.  Finally, on the national front we are certain that we will receive important and welcome resource updates today or tomorrow.   Thank you AHCA/NCAL – we are stronger together!

Important Survey Reminder

Here in Maryland over the next couple of weeks, cases hospitalizations, people in hospital ICU’s, and deaths will increase dramatically. To prepare and be proactive as a sector, completion of this survey is critical.
These reminders are obvious, but so very important:

  • Love, support, and over communicate with your care teams.

  • Over communicate with families.

  • Operate DRIVEN by your infectious disease protocol.

  • Execute your observation and isolation beds.

  • Work closely with your acute-care hospital partners and home health partners.

  • Stay in contact with local health offices and the Office of Health Care Quality (OHCQ).
Reminder: CMS “Office Hours” on COVID-19 

Opportunities for hospitals, health systems, and providers to ask questions of agency officials regarding CMS’s temporary actions that empower local hospitals and healthcare systems to: 

  • Increase Hospital Capacity – CMS Hospitals Without Walls; 
  • Rapidly Expand the Healthcare Workforce; 
  • Put Patients Over Paperwork; and 
  • Further Promote Telehealth in Medicare 

Submit questions in advance to partnership@cms.hhs.gov , including “Office Hours” in the subject line. There will also be live Q&A. Conference lines are limited, so it is highly encouraged you to join via audio webcast, either on your computer or smartphone web browser. 
 
Thursday, April 9 
5:00 – 6:00 PM EDT
Attendee Dial In: 833-614-0820 
Event Plus Passcode: 1881716 
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.
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.