2020 Health Care Observances

November 2020 marks, among other observances, National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month. The 2020 Healthcare Observances Calendar can be found here.

Legislative and Agency Corner

• NHSN Adds Point of Care Laboratory Reporting Pathway

• Updated: 3-Day Stay and Benefit Period COVID-19 Waiver Guidance Fact Sheet

• Ask the Experts: FFCRA Webinar Recordings Now Available on ahcancalED

• New OSHA Guidance for COVID-19 and AHCA/NCAL OSHA Resources

Articles and Resources of Interest

• Nursing Homes Warn of Third Spike of COVID Cases Due to Community Spread

• BD Veritor - New Training Resources

• Abbott BinaxNOW Training Webinars Via BinaxNOW COVID-19 and NAVICA Apps

• Helping Residents Vote in 2020

• Cleaning and Disinfecting in the Era of COVID-19

• AHCA/NCAL Launch New Online Training to Address the Impact of COVID-19 on Residents and Staff

Due November 12: Submit Your 2021 AHCA/NCAL Quality Award Intent to Apply Today

​The National Quality Award portal is now open, and accepting Intent to Apply submissions for the 2021 program year.  

We hope you’ll consider applying for this important award. Participating in the program has many benefits:

• It provides a proven framework that organizations can use to make improvements in any clinical, quality or other operational function (i.e. staff engagement, customer satisfaction, hospital readmissions).
• It prepares organizations to meet regulatory requirements and navigate a changing market. 
• It serves as a team building activity to engage staff across all levels of the organization.
• Organizations gain external recognition, serving as a marketing resource for consumers, referral sources and other key stakeholders.
• ​Participants receive customized feedback with their top strengths and improvement areas.

Please visit the Quality Award Website to download applications and materials for your respective award level and to learn how your facility should begin preparing.

Key 2021 Program Dates:

• November 12, 2020 – Intent to Apply Deadline
• January 28, 2021 – Application and Fee Deadline 

Examiner Program Applications Available!

If you’re interested in other ways to get involved, consider becoming an Examiner for the 2021 program cycle. Examiners play a significant role in reviewing Quality Award applications and impacting quality improvement in organizations across the country. 

Get started today by visiting ahcancal.org/qualityaward! For questions, email qualityaward@ahca.org​.

Coronavirus

Visit the AHCA/NCAL Coronavirus website daily for the latest information that we have to share with long term care providers about COVID-19.  As concerns arise with the emerging coronavirus, officially named COVID-19, we are working nationally with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to ensure our long term care communities receive necessary supplies and guidance to prevent the spread of this disease.

CMS to Update County Data for COVID-19 Testing Weekly and Allow Use of State or County Data in Updated Methodology

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) has updated the Excel file that flags COVID-19 positive test rates in counties. CMS modified the method for classifying a county as green, yellow, or red and expanded the measure to cover results over a 14-day period in each county instead of seven days. SNFs should use the color classification provided in the file. 

The revised methodology results in some red counties with rates >10% being reclassified to yellow:  

• Green = Counties with test percent positivity <5.0% or with <20 tests in past 14 days 
• Yellow = Counties with test percent positivity 5.0%-10.0%; OR with <500 tests and <2,000 tests/100k and >10% positivity over 14 days 
• Red = >10.0% and not meeting the criteria for “Green” or “Yellow” 

Posting Frequency: CMS also clarified that it will post county data weekly​. It stated that facilities must check weekly and should pick one day of the week to check each week. They should document their plan for checking and document the dates used by CMS for the data in the top of the Excel file.  
Using State or County Data: CMS has indicated on several national calls that facilities can use test positivity data released by their state or county if the data is more recent than the CMS data. The facility must document the source and date of the data being used. 

Now Available: Payment Resource for COVID-19 Testing

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has released information to help states, nursing facilities, and other providers better understand the sources of Medicare and Medicaid coverage and payment for COVID-19 testing. Among the resources is the Coverage and Payment for COVID-19 Testing in Nursing Facilities flow chart​, which details testing coverage for nursing facility residents. ​AHCA/NCAL has developed a summary​ of this resource.