ODH list taken down. A day and a half after it went live, the Department of Health (ODH) took down their online list of facilities with COVID-19 positive or probable cases because of numerous issues with the data. In addition to notifying ODH of data errors for specific facilities, OHCA asked ODH to:

• Establish a process for providers to review the numbers before they are posted;
• Specify standards for local health departments to report data to ODH;
• Separate reporting of cases for residents and staff; and  
• Remove resolved cases from the public list or report them separately.

HCIC requirements finalized. ODH and the Department of Medicaid issued a final version of criteria for voluntary state designation of Health Care Isolation Centers (HCICs) at SNFs for COVID-19 patients. Per OHCA's request, the departments added a new designation of Health Care Isolation Centers-Quarantine and re-named the original as HCICs-Isolation. A HCIC-Q serves patients who are quarantined because they were exposed to COVID-19 but do not have symptoms. A HCIC-I is for patients who are confirmed or probable for COVID-19. ODM specified a draft Medicaid rate for a HCIC-Q at $250 per day, while retaining the tiered rates for a HCIC-I. Most patients in either type of unit, however, will be Medicare skilled patients. Another change from the previous draft criteria is a requirement that the applicant submit a letter signed by the regional hospital zone. The application materials are toward the back of the packet.

PARRT testing program expands. The Post-Acute Regional Rapid Testing (PARRT) program, which provides swab teams to take testing samples in congregate care settings in Franklin County expanded to the counties surrounding Franklin. For more information about how to utilize this free, quick testing service, please see the materials in the PARRT folder on our website. The folder includes a new Anticipatory Guidance document for facilities awaiting test results.

PCR COVID-19 test vendor. OHCA associate member RX2Live is offering polymerase chain reaction (PCR - nasopharyngeal swab) tests for COVID-19 and claims a 24 to 48-hour turnaround time. They work with 3 different laboratories that bill Medicare for the tests. For more information, contact Mike Klever at mklever@rx2live.com or (513) 313-6210 to start with up to 20 test kits.

Paycheck Protection Program out of money. Unfortunately, in 14 days of operation the Paycheck Protection Program created under the CARES Act used up its allotment of $349 billion in loan guarantees. While it is likely the fourth stimulus bill expected soon is likely to replenish the fund, for now pplicants who have not received approval will not get much-needed funding to support payroll.

DODD update. The Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD) released several new guidance documents today. Most important is guidance to county boards related to the Economic Impact Payments (stimulus checks), which advises county boards to not recoup these payments for people who receive room and board supplemental payments. While the Administrative Code gives county boards the authority to recoup unearned income from one-time payments such as tax refunds, taking the stimulus checks would go against the spirit of the Coronovirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act that provided these funds to individuals. Other DODD guidance documents cover licensure development, licensure expiration dates, and licensed facilities and local triage zones. 

Updated CDC return-to-work criteria. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revised their criteria for health care personnel to return to work. According to CDC, the changes establish a preference for test-based criteria, add criteria for a worker who tests positive but does not have symptoms, and align the return-to-work guidance with source control (masking) guidelines.