Some Members Receive CRF Payments. Today, OHCA members began to report that they received payments from the state Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) (Ohio Grants Partnership). Oddly, these payments generally seem to be coming in the form of paper checks instead of electronic funds transfers (EFTs). Members also report receiving payments for only some of their locations. The providers receiving payments appear to be those covered by the Tuesday emails from the Ohio Grants Partnership. We requested clarification from the state concerning which providers on the master list are receiving payment this week, which providers are subject to additional matching research, any that have applied but not processed yet, and which providers have not applied at all, as well as why providers are receiving paper checks when their Medicaid payments come by EFT.
Assisted Living Testing to Become Mandatory. In his press conference today, Governor Mike DeWine announced an upcoming new testing order that will apply to assisted living communities, just a week after the voluntary assisted living testing program began. Apparently not enough communities signed up for the voluntary testing. The order is not available yet, but according to the Governor's press release, the mandatory testing will be the same saliva testing relative to which OHCA assisted living members reported concerns on yesterday's member call. The press release reads:
Governor DeWine announced that a statewide testing initiative for Ohio's more than 765 assisted living facilities is now underway to offer baseline saliva testing to all staff and residents at no cost to the facilities.
The tests can be self-performed or performed with assistance, under the observance of licensed medical staff. Baseline saliva tests are minimally invasive and provide reliable results in approximately 48 hours upon the lab’s receipt.
An order requiring all assisting living facilities to participate in the testing initiative will be posted soon at coronavirus.ohio.gov.
Re-opening Adult Day Care and Senior Centers. Also in his press conference, Governor DeWine confirmed the long-awaited re-opening of adult day care sites and senior centers in Ohio, but the re-opening will not occur until September 21. According to the release, this delayed date will give the centers time to prepare for compliance with another yet-to-be-published order prescribing reduced capacity and other requirements they must meet.
Indoor Visitation Considered. A high-powered workgroup led by Director of Aging Ursel McElroy and including four state agency directors, along with many state officials and representatives of OHCA and other provider groups, met today to discuss the circumstances under which indoor visitation at assisted living communities and SNFs will occur. The debate focused on draft criteria submitted by the provider associations. The group identified a number of issues for further consideration. The next steps are for the state officials to return to the workgroup with their ideas for addressing the issues. Although Director McElroy did not specify a timetable for starting indoor visitation, the working theory is that it should occur before fall weather makes outdoor visitation impractical. The same principles of preparation, flexibility, and transparency are in play as in previous revisions of the visitation order. Director Developmental Disabilities Jeff Davis clarified that his department is treading a separate path for visitation in ICFs/IID.
More Assistance from BWC. Yet another relevant revelation from Governor DeWine's press conference:
Governor DeWine today asked the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) Board of Directors to send up to $1.5 billion in dividend payments to Ohio employers this fall. This dividend equals approximately 100% of the premiums paid in policy year 2019. Dividends like this, as well as previous ones, are possible because of strong investment returns on employer premiums, a declining number of claims each year, prudent fiscal management, and employers who work hard to improve workplace safety and reduce injury claims.
If approved by the Board, this would be the second dividend of $1 billion or more since April and the third dividend since 2019. BWC anticipated providing a dividend next year, but with Board approval, they will issue one now to provide some immediate economic relief to employers amid the ongoing pandemic. Checks would be distributed by BWC in late October.
Additionally, Governor DeWine asked BWC’s Board of Directors to approve of a second distribution of face coverings to Ohio employers and their workforce as part of BWC’s Protecting Ohio’s Workforce - We’ve Got You Covered program. This second round will consist of approximately 23 million masks to employers and are meant to replace any masks that have exhausted their effective use. Governor DeWine has also asked that BWC work to purchase as many masks as possible made in Ohio.
In the first distribution of face coverings, BWC shipped 20.6 masks to 197,000 employers and their workforce.
CDC Testing Guidance. A few days ago, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued new testing guidance that confirms the utility for screening testing of what they call rapid antigen testing, such as by means of the point-of-care (POC) devices the Department of Health and Human Services is distributing to SNFs. Screening testing is the type of testing the state mandates bi-weekly for SNF employees. While some antigen test results should be confirmed with a laboratory test, CDC considers antigent testing to be useful for screening and other purposes. The guidelines are recommended reading as we await more widespread distribution of POC testing units.