Greetings!
This message includes:
- the latest updates to the LTCSP Guide including a new Entrance Conference Worksheet and a COVID-19 Staff Vaccination Matrix;
- info about our February 4 Lunch & Learn on getting ready for survey compliance for the staff vaccine mandate; and
- updates related to nurse aid training and testing.
Sincerely,
April Payne, MBA, LNHA
Chief Quality & Regulatory Affairs Officer
Executive Director of VCAL
Virginia Health Care Association | Virginia Center for Assisted Living
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CMS Releases Updated Guidance
and Resources to Surveyors
CMS made updates to the Long-Term Care Survey Process Procedure Guide effective January 27, 2022. These updates include:
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Mandatory facility task assignment and review of NHSN data related to the QSO Memo-QSO-22-07-ALL.
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Additional resources in the Survey Resources - January 2022 (01/25/22) (ZIP) file, including an updated Entrance Conference Worksheet and a COVID-19 Staff Vaccination Matrix.
- Closed record review may select a resident with confirmed case of COVID-19 in last four weeks who was hospitalized or died to add to closed record review.
- Infection Control surveyor will review the infection prevention and control program, policy and procedures for staff COVID-19 vaccination, antibiotic stewardship program, and the influenza, pneumococcal, and COVID-19 for residents and staff.
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Details around whether to enforce §483.80(i). If enforced, the facility will have 4 hours to complete the COVID-19 Staff Vaccination Matrix.
- Once the matrix is received, the assigned surveyor selects eight staff to review for COVID-19 vaccinations according to the guidelines below:
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2 vaccinated staff (at least one CNA and one contractor who provides services, such as hospice and dialysis staff, occupational therapists, mental health professionals, licensed practitioners).
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6 unvaccinated staff, if available (3 unvaccinated staff (2 CNAs, if available) without exemption or reason for temporary delay, 1 non-medical exemption, 1 medical exemption (Note: If there are 2 or more staff with medical exemptions, select 50% of the staff from this category), one whose primary vaccine series has been temporarily delayed.
- If there are no staff who meet one of the above unvaccinated criteria, no increase to the sample size is needed for another category.
- If they identify any staff that weren’t vaccinated and weren’t granted an exemption or temporary delay (and weren’t listed on the staff matrix), that individual(s) should be added to the staff sample.
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F888 will be cited according to Attachment A in the QSO-22-07-ALL memo.
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Dining task: Temporarily allowing the dining task to be discretionary and completed only if a resident is investigated for nutrition, weight loss, or facility incidents related to dialysis.
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Med Storage: CMS is temporarily allowing the med storage task to be discretionary and only completed if there is an outstanding complaint, or concerns from the ombudsman or concerns identified when completing the med admin observation task.
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Resident Council: CMS is temporarily allowing the resident council task to be discretionary and only completed if there’s an outstanding complaint, or concerns from the ombudsman or during the initial pool (e.g., with visitation or grievances).
CMS Requires Surveyors Be Fully Vaccinated
Also, note that QSO-22-10-ALL requires onsite surveyors to be full vaccinated for COVID-19 or have an acceptable medical or religious exemption. State Survey Agencies are responsible for compliance with this expectation. Therefore, certified providers and suppliers are still not permitted to ask surveyors for proof of their vaccination status as a precondition for entry. Read our recent article for more information on this memo.
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COVID-19: Tools to Determine If Vaccine Requirements Apply
CMS has published new and updated tools and resources to help you navigate and determine how the vaccine requirements apply. These materials are all available from the CMS Current Emergencies webpage.
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February 4: Lunch & Learn on
Survey Compliance for the Vax Mandate
Join us for a Lunch & Learn on Friday, February 4, 2022 at noon to go over the requirements of the CMS COVID-19 vaccine rule and how surveyors will assess their compliance.
Follow the link below to connect to the Zoom meeting. The session will be recorded if you are unable to attend the live event.
February 4, 2022 | 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Additional Resources
Additional resources are available on the AHCA/NCAL COVID-19 website under the Vaccines section.
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Nurse Aide Credentialing Program Update
The Department of Health Professions – Board of Nursing asked VHCA-VCAL to share a message about nurse aide credentialing provided by Credentia. Credentia is offering a new and improved nurse aide application process and a new method of testing to replace the “paper and pencil” written test and provide more access to testing. This new system will launch in Virginia on February 14, 2022. Both Credentia and the Board of Nursing staff will work closely with the programs during this transition.
Read this summary of the new online exam process. Please note, there are no changes being made to the skills examination.
You can also review this VHCA-VCAL Temporary Nurse Aide Q&A, which addresses common questions about temporary nurse aides (TNAs), and the TNA2CNA pathway, along with links to training and testing resources.
BON – Credentia Message
Dear Virginia Training Programs:
With the acquisition of our nurse aide credentialing program from Pearson VUE in April 2021, Credentia is making significant investments in people, processes, and systems to meet the evolving nurse aide and home health aide testing market needs for decades to come. In strategic partnership with the National Council of State Boards of Nursing® (NCSBN®), we are developing new nurse aide testing services and programs that we feel will provide even more value to state agencies, training programs, and candidates in the coming years, all with the primary objective of maximizing public health and safety.
In conjunction with the Virginia Board of Nursing, we are excited to announce significant credentialing program improvements including online NNAAP® Written/Oral Exam, a new candidate support center dedicated to the nurse aide community, the new CNA365® nurse aide credentialing system, expanded reporting capabilities, and much more. Attached please find an overview of all program improvements.
To fully migrate all nurse aide testing information from Pearson VUE legacy systems to the new Credentia CNA365® system, there will be a “downtime” period of no exam dates from 1/27/22 through 2/13/2022. Beginning on 2/14/2022, candidates will have access to CNA365® and can schedule and take online Written/Oral exams on that day.
Please also note that a prerecorded training session on CNA365® will be shared with each active, state-approved training program in early February to introduce an electronic candidate course completion verification process and to review system reporting capabilities.
Before the launch date, CNA365® training materials will be shared with you and posted to your state’s webpage, https://credentia.com/test-takers/va. Also, please find additional information regarding the systems requirement and a detailed summary of the online, remote-proctored Written/Oral exam attached.
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Upcoming Events
February 4, 2022 | 12:00 – 1:00 pm
February 15 – 17, 2022
February 22 & 24, 2022 | 1:00 pm
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