Responsible RestartOhio health care webinar. Tomorrow, April 29, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., the DeWine Administration will offer a webinar for providers on the health care aspects of Governor Mike DeWine's plan for re-opening Ohio. The webinar will feature the Governor, Health Director Dr. Amy Acton, other cabinet members, and health care leaders. The Administration asks that only one or two individuals from each organization join the webinar to ensure all interested parties have an opportunity to participate. The webinar will be recorded and posted at coronavirus.ohio.gov for later viewing. You can register for the webinar here: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/326089167070359567. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. Please note that the webinar will require attendees to listen through their computer audio, so calling in from a phone will not be an option.
Federal PPE shipments for Ohio SNFs. State Medicaid Director Maureen Corcoran alerted OHCA that the federal government will ship personal protection equipment (PPE), consisting of masks, gloves, gowns, and face shields, to Ohio SNFs on this list. The supplies will be shipped directly and are set to arrive between May 9 and June 13, 2020. The quantities of each type of PPE listed on the spreadsheet for each center are based on the number of staff and residents shown, which we believe were derived from the Payroll-Based Journal.
Grants for communication technology. We have received a number of questions from members about where to send applications for grants for patient communication technology. The correct contact is Amy Hogan at the Department of Medicaid (614) 752-3076, Amy.Hogan@medicaid.ohio.gov. Ms. Hogan handles all projects to utilize civil money penalty (CMP) funds, including the two grants OHCA received in the past. The technology grants are limited to the actual cost of the equipment up to a maximum of $3,000. We are assured there is plenty of money in the Residents Protection Fund even if every SNF in the state applies for a grant.
Paycheck Protection Program replenished. The federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Health Care Enhancement Act recently added $320 billion to the original $349 billion, which was fully allocated to PPP loan guarantees, leading to the need to replenish the fund. Banks have begun offering PPP loans again, so any OHCA members who missed out on the first opportunity should move quickly if they wish to apply. Please note that while the 500-employee standard is the most well-known criterion for small business status under the PPP, there are other criteria such as the industry-based size standards under Small Business Administration regulations and the alternative size standard of maximum tangible net worth as of March 27, 2020, of not more than $15 million and average after-tax net income for the previous two years of not more than $5 million.
OSHA guidance on decontaminating respirators. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released interim guidance on decontaminating respirators in healthcare. Providers should make a good-faith effort to provide and to ensure workers use the most appropriate respiratory protection available for the relevant hazards, consistent with flexibilities outlined in OSHA's previous COVID-19 enforcement memorandum. Long-term services and supports providers should review this information along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC's) Decontamination and Reuse of Filtering Facepiece Respirators guidelines.
Buckeye relaxes PA requirements for Medicare and Medicaid. Last week, Buckeye Health Plan (Buckeye) announced that it would follow the Department of Medicaid directive to relax certain prior authorization (PA) requirements. Today, OHCA confirmed with Buckeye that this change applies to their MyCare Medicare, MyCare Medicaid, Managed Medicaid, and Managed Medicare health plans. They do not apply to the Marketplace product line. Buckeye reminds skilled nursing facilities to submit clinical documentation supporting the skilled or intermediate level of care within 3 days of admission as well as to submit completed concurrent reviews. If there is a presumptive COVID-19 diagnosis, please include that information as part of your clinical submission. Clinical documentation still must meet SNF level of care requirements.
As another reminder, PA requirements also are relaxed for the first two weeks of home health services and are suspended for private duty nursing.
Stimulus payments and STABLE accounts. The Department of Developmental Disabilities reminded everyone that people receiving federal stimulus payments have the option of contributing funds into a STABLE account. See the STABLE website for more information.
Ohio launches toll-free "COVID CareLine" to provide emotional support. Anyone needing help can call 800-720-9616 to connect with trained counselors from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. seven days a week. After 8:00 p.m., the CareLine will forward to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Please see this site for more information about the COVID CareLine and this page to review COVID-19 mental health resources.