Greetings!

This update includes:
  • information about the new Licensed Nursing Homes Dashboard, which will be published daily as a summary of the LTC VHASS report;
  • a reminder about Thursday’s webinar on the new surveys; and
  • info about two Medicaid Memos issued on Friday.

Sincerely,

April Payne, LNHA
Vice President of Quality Improvement | Director of VCAL
Virginia Health Care Association | Virginia Center for Assisted Living 
Licensed Nursing Home Dashboard
 
The Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association (VHHA) has launched a new online Licensed Nursing Homes Dashboard with statistics associated with COVID-19 cases in licensed nursing facilities. The dashboard, which will be updated daily, includes information nursing facilities are voluntarily providing to VHASS on:
  • confirmed and pending COVID-19 cases among patients and residents in NFs;
  • the number of nursing facility residents who have recovered from COVID-19; and
  • information about NFs' difficulty in obtaining specific types of PPE.

VHCA-VCAL has issued a statement that coincided with the release of the dashboard. In the statement, Keith Hare said, “We hope this public reporting illustrates the ongoing urgent need to support long term care right now. Virginia’s long term care providers – both nursing homes and assisted living facilities – are working every day to stop the spread of COVID-19 and follow proper infection control procedures while making sure our residents still receive the daily care they require.”

The statement, which was jointly issued by LeadingAge Virginia and the Virginia Assisted Living Association, also notes that the dashboard only shows a partial picture of the on-going needs of Virginia’s LTC facilities as the data is derived from voluntarily reported information and does not include any data from assisted living facilities. The statement describes the required reporting obligations of NFs and ALFs in reporting to VDH, OLC, CMS, CDC, and DSS.
Register for Thursday’s Webinar on
CMS and CDC COVID-19 Surveys
 
Register today for the May 21 webinar at 2:00 pm led by Mary Chiles of Chiles Healthcare Consulting on the two new focus surveys. Chiles will review the processes for both the CMC Focus Survey (including F-Tags related to infection control, emergency preparedness, COVID-19 reporting to the CDC, and required notifications) as well as the CDC focus survey. Remember the CDC survey applies to nursing facilities and assisted living.

May 21, 2020 | 2:00 -3:15 pm
New Medicaid Memos to Providers

DMAS issued new Medicaid Memos to providers on May 15.

  1. New Administrative Provider Flexibilities Related to COVID-19 – This memo addresses changes that affect FFS and managed care organization models of care. It addresses clarification on infection control measures, patient interaction, and billing, as well as clarification of telehealth coverage.
  2. Developmental Disabilities (DD) and CCC Plus Waivers: Additional Provider Flexibilities and Retainer Payments Related to COVID-19  - This memo outlines the agencies guidance on flexibilities available to providers in light of COVID-19. The CCC Plus-related clarifications are largely focused on Home and Community Based Services.

You can access all DMAS Medicaid Memos to Providers via this portal. 
Quick Links
www.vhca.org | (804) 353-9101 | Calendar of Events