COVID-19 UPDATE #110
December 8, 2020
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GOVERNOR INSLEE EXTENDS TO JANUARY 4, 2021, PROCLAMATION RESTRICTIONS IMPACTING LTC FACILITIES |
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Governor Inslee announced today a continuance of the statewide restrictions that were announced on Sunday, November 15, 2020. The original four-week statewide set of restrictions were in response to the recent rapid spread of the COVID-19 virus and were set to expire on December 14, 2020. With the announcement today, those restrictions will now remain in effect until January 4, 2021. With the effects of Thanksgiving on infection and hospital numbers still unknown, the extension will grant the state’s medical system much needed time to increase Intensive Care Unit (ICU) capacity before it is overwhelmed.
The Governor’s proclamation did not change the requirement that WHCA members must follow the “Safe Start for LTC Recommendations and Requirements.” Nor did the proclamation change the directions for communal dining and group activities found within the “Safe Start for LTC” documents. Therefore, since WHCA members followed the LTC Safe Start guidance before the Governor’s proclamation, they will continue to follow the same safe start guidance going forward.
The proclamation did put additional restrictions in place regarding visitation. The Department’s communication on this issue can be found here and here, and provides clarification as follows:
Phase 1
Outdoor visitation
- Limited to two (2) visitors per day (same as now).
Indoor visitation
- End of life.
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If resident is unable to participate in outdoor or remote visits, an essential support person is allowed to visit once daily only for a compassionate care reason.
Phase 2
Outdoor Visitation
- Limited to five (5) people for an outdoor visit including the resident.
Indoor Visitation
- End of life.
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If resident is unable to participate in outdoor or remote visits, an essential support person is allowed to visit once daily only for a compassionate care reason.
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LTC WAIVERS EXTENDED UNTIL JANUARY 19, 2021 |
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On December 7, the Washington Legislature’s “four corners” approved an extension of LTC-related COVID-19 waivers. Here is the letter affirming the extension until January 19, 2021. These waivers, which have been in effect since the statewide COVID-19 emergency was declared, must be extended by legislative leadership to remain in effect.
This includes but is not limited to the waivers related to the NAR certification, resident rights, training, certification, and fingerprint-based background checks. For a complete listing of waivers, click here for the WHCA waiver tracker. Please note that the hyperlinks to proclamations are not yet updated; we are waiting for that information to be posted by the Governor’s office. Expiration dates are updated for your ease of review.
If you have questions or need additional information regarding waivers, please email Paul Raines or call him at (800) 562-6170, extension 108.
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WEBINAR: PREPARING FOR COVID-19 VACCINE CLINICS |
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The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) is hosting a webinar on Thursday, December 10, at 1 PM PST to help providers prepare for vaccine clinics. COVID-19 vaccine clinics are starting as early as next week. Providers need to act now to get ready. AHCA/NCAL's webinar will walk you through how to get ready and promote high vaccination rates in your building.
The webinar is open to everyone. Registration is required, but lines are limited. This webinar will be recorded and made available if you are not able to join live.
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RAPID RESPONSE REQUESTS | PROVIDE MULTIPLE CONTACTS OR ENSURE CONTACT PERSON CAN BE REACHED |
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The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) has been working to deploy rapid response staff as described in a Dear Administrator letter dated December 2, 2020, as quickly as they can when qualifying requests are made. A challenge they have had is making contact with someone at the facility if the person who submitted the form is not available—left for the day, not on call—when DSHS calls.
DSHS is requesting that the person completing the form provide multiple contact names and numbers if the person submitting the form is not going to be available at the number they provide. Alternatively, please provide a contact name and number of someone that can be called—and reached—at any time. DSHS is also asking that individuals submitting the Rapid Response Request communicate to a person in charge about the request so when DSHS calls, there is somebody there to talk with them about rapid response staff.
The Rapid Response Request form is submitted via email. Because it only has space for one contact name and information, you can provide additional contact names and numbers in the email you send with the attached form.
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HHS AWARDS SECOND ROUND OF VALUE-BASED COVID RELIEF FOR NURSING HOMES |
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The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on Monday announced the pending distribution of $523 million in performance-based stimulus payments to about 9,200 nursing homes that achieved specific coronavirus infection and death reduction benchmarks between September and October. HHS finalized the value-based relief structure in September, dividing the overall $2 billion into four pots of $500 million apiece. Each month, operators would have a chance to receive a portion of that $500 million by lowering COVID-19 infection and mortality rates, adjusted to account for regional variations in community spread. About 69% of the more than 13,000 eligible properties met the infection-control challenge, down from the 76% of properties that performed well enough to land an incentive payment during the first month of competition in September, with HHS doling out a total of $333 million. The “October” payments will start to hit qualifying operators’ bank accounts on December 9. Many thanks to Skilled Nursing News for providing this informational article.
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AHRQ ECHO NATIONAL NURSING HOME COVID-19 ACTION NETWORK |
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The National Nursing Home COVID-19 Action Network is recruiting skilled nursing facilities from across the country to participate in a virtual online peer community for improving COVID-19 infection control and better protecting residents and staff. The network is voluntary, and it puts a heavy emphasis on collaboration. Participating nursing homes receive hand-on technical assistance for preventing and reducing the spread of the novel coronavirus—which is even more important now, given that some federal provider relief payments will be tied to improved infection control through the end of the year.
It’s a partnership with the federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), the government’s lead entity for improving health care quality, the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), home to the country’s preeminent quality improvement experts, and Project ECHO, a global model for rapidly scaling up health expertise in communities.
The network offers a distinctive opportunity for staff to gain access to up-to-the-minute expert guidance on how best to protect residents and themselves from the virus while taking part in a larger community of practice. They not only learn alongside their peers but also share their insights with them and the expert team. Each training program will evolve to meet the needs of the local nursing home community and the curriculum will be updated weekly to reflect new evidence, innovations in best practices, and changes in the pandemic.
Nursing homes that complete the 16-session training will receive a $6,000 honorarium through the Provider Relief Fund, and staff will earn continuing education units (CEUs) for completing the training.
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EDUCATIONAL WEBINARS AVAILABLE TO HELP SUPPORT YOUR COVID-19 RESPONSE |
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There are several opportunities to learn emerging and best practices through online learning opportunities. Below is a listing of upcoming webinars you may find helpful.
A Closer Look: Face Masks and People with Disabilities
Office Hours: Review November Changes to LTCF COVID-19 Module Pathways – Resident Impact and Facility Capacity and Staff and Personnel Impact | December 10, 2020 | 10:30 AM PST | Register Here
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WHCA continues to post resources and information as it becomes available on our website. If you have questions or need additional information, please call the WHCA office at (800) 562-6170.
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