March 25, 2020
COVID-19: A Provider's Response Paradigm. An OHCA member kindly shared a description of how they responded to a positive COVID-19 case in their facility. They offer it to other members as a way to learn from their experience.
DODD day services webinar. The Department of Developmental Disabilities produced a recorded webinar for providers about the order to close many adult day programs, actions the department took, and things providers can do to respond. The webinar features OHCA's own Debbie Jenkins, along with Director Jeff Davis and others.
Cautionary notes. Be careful to secure your personal protective equipment (PPE) and use care in distributing it. There is a black market for PPE, and supplies have been stolen.
Discontinue routine visits by ancillary providers (e.g., dental, vision), as these providers travel from place to place an increase the risk of COVID-19 exposure. Continue to allow visits for essential services, but only with thorough screening on each entry and, if available, use of PPE.
According to AHCA's Dr. David Gifford, SNFs should not insist that all patients admitted from hospitals be tested for COVID-19 if they don't have symptoms. Blanket testing is not consistent with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines, and the test will not show the virus in an asymptomatic patient even if they carry it. According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' (CMS's) Jean Moody-Williams on a national provider call, CMS and CDC are working on guidelines for admission of hospital patients to SNFs.
CDC guidance for independent living. CDC issued COVID-19 guidance specific to independent living. These guidelines, in conjunction with the Health Department order and CDC guidance for long-term care, may be informative for assisted living providers as well. We hear that assisted living-specific guidelines may be coming out soon.
Key items in COVID-19 emergency legislation. The General Assembly passed Senate Bill 197 as an emergency measure with many COVID-19-related provisions, some that are of interest to long-term services and supports providers. One item gives a nursing student who has completed their education and a background check a 90-day temporary license without passing the licensure exam. This provision applies to both RNs and LPNs. Another provision extends all individual and business license renewal deadlines until the earlier of December 1, 2020, or 90 days after the current declaration of emergency ends. Another section of the bill allows the Director Medicaid temporarily to classify COVID-19 community providers and to establish special standards and enhanced reimbursement for them.
Medicare cost report extension. Medicare Administrative Contractors, including Palmetto GBA and CGS, report extensions of Medicare Part A cost report deadlines for home health agencies, hospices, and SNFs. Cost reports due March 31 and April 30 are now due June 30 and May 31 cost reports are due July 31. These extensions are automatic, and no request is required.