Thought for the Day Virginia

June 23, 2020

Today is LeadingAge’s Act For Older Adults campaign’s National Day of Action for Older Adults! We need every LeadingAge member organization to do its part to ensure Congress hears our collective voice. Congress will hear a virtual army banging on their doors on June 23, the National Day of Action for Older Adults.

• Call or email your member of Congress. Calling Congress is easy. LeadingAge’s Joe Franco shows you how it works in this video. • Encourage your staff, residents, and their families to contact Congress. • Share the campaign video in social media accounts with the hashtag #Act4OlderAdults. • Follow LeadingAge on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn to reshare campaign posts.

Here are additional ways for your organization to join the fight.

Thought for the Day

"Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seed that you plant." (Robert Louis Stevenson)

Virginia

Assisted living Communities in Virginia Slated to Receive $20 million to Fund COVID-19-Related Efforts LeadingAge Virginia is grateful for the additional nursing home payments as well, Melissa Andrews said. “Unfortunately, there are still non-certified providers who have to comply with the Department of Health’s guidance without financial support.” “We would like to see all providers of long-term care, including adult day providers, receive the support they desperately need to serve our residents.” Read the McKnight’s Article

Member Call Tomorrow: Nursing Home Reopening Guidance Tomorrow’s member call will focus on the nursing home reopening guidance - Sarah Lineberger with VDH will be presenting and addressing your questions. The call information is below.

Governor Northam Outlines Phase Three Guidelines to Lift Additional Public Health Restrictions Governor Ralph Northam recently presented the third phase of the “Forward Virginia” plan to continue easing public health restrictions while mitigating the spread of COVID-19. The Commonwealth does not yet have a targeted date for entering Phase Three. Read the Governor’s Press Release

VDH Mask Fit Test Train-the-Trainer The Virginia Department of Health provides regional Respiratory Fit Testing Train-the-Trainer courses. The course purpose is to ensure that each health district and medical practice have qualified staff to provide respirator fit testing. In addition, the attendee can train others in the proper procedures for fit testing. This training is for qualitative testing using a hood and not quantitative testing. The training is free, but registration is required. Attendees will need to complete and bring a signed OSHA Medical Questionnaire. VDH also prefers attendees bring their own N95 Fit Test Kit to the training. Click here to Register – You will need to create an account and choose Course ID 1046592. Click here for the training flyer

Special Education around COVID-19 Complimentary Webinars & Calls

4 CEUs: Legal Issues Around COVID-19 and Post-COVID (a 4-part webinar series) (LIVE)

1. Tuesday, June 30 ~ 11am to 12pm Hancock Daniel & Johnson will discuss statutory immunity protections in Virginia Code Sections 8.01-225.01 and 8.01-225.02; immunity protections for volunteers pursuant to Governor Northam’s Executive Order 42; impact of Executive Order 60, along with potential liability claims, causes of action and litigation strategies, as well as the interplay between COVID-19 and what is or is not covered under Virginia workers’ compensation; and more. 2. Tuesday, July 7 ~ 11am to 12pm Johnson Kendall Johnson will discuss legal implications with regard to insurance coverage, risk management, and newfound exposures and how coverage will respond, etc. 3. Tuesday, July 21 ~ 11am to 12pm Whiteford Taylor & Preston will discuss what claims are communities likely to see, and what steps can they take now to prepare; what the key insurance coverage issues are; possible increased obligations as to employees as communities re-open; and what messages to residents and families are timely and appropriate. 4. Tuesday, July 28 ~ 11am to 12pm TBD

*Cost for entire series: $149/member | $249/nonmember 4 NAB CEs for entire series ~ Click here to register by June 29.

LeadingAge Virginia Education Opportunities The full list of educational offerings can be found here.

CMS COVID-19 Office Hours Call Today Tuesday, June 23 | 5:00 – 6:00 pm CMS Office Hour calls provide an opportunity for hospitals, health systems, and providers to ask questions of agency officials regarding CMS’s temporary actions that empower local hospitals and healthcare systems to:

• Increase Hospital Capacity – CMS Hospitals Without Walls; • Rapidly Expand the Healthcare Workforce; • Put Patients Over Paperwork; and • Further Promote Telehealth in Medicare

Toll Free Attendee Call In: 833-614-0820; Access Passcode: 5775248, Audio Webcast Access

LeadingAge Live Coronavirus Updates Continue Through June LeadingAge is committed to helping members during this unprecedented time. Each weekday afternoon, we’re still hosting daily live coronavirus updates at 3:30 p.m. ET, through the month of June. If you have already registered for the calls, there is no action needed. If you haven’t registered and want to access these great resources, sign up here

Weekly COVID-19 Calls with Affordable Housing Every Wednesday | 9:00am to 10:00am (offered by LeadingAge Maryland and LeadingAge Ohio) Click here to access For audio only, call:1 (646) 749-3122 | Access code: 389-687-645

Weekly LeadingAge Virginia Member Call Wednesday, June 24 | 11 am Please join us for an open conversation call on Wednesday, June 24 at 11:00 am to discuss the real struggles communities are facing such as staffing challenges and how to minimize the risk to residents and staff during this trying time. We ask that you please use this link to access the call and power point. If you are only able to join by phone, please call the number below and use your muting options. +1 (872) 240-3412 Access Code: 400-555-125 - *These calls are not intended for the media.

CMS Webinar: PPE Strategies for COVID Care – Audit Tool Thursday, June 25, 2020 | 4:00 – 5:00 pm Participants will understand why using personal protective equipment (PPE) is necessary for infection prevention and will be able to describe how to properly use it. Additionally, participants will learn how to use an audit tool for tracking compliance in proper use of PPE. CMS will also share promising practices and strategies for PPE supply and proper use. Click here to register ACL Webinar: Technology and Social Isolation Friday, June 26 | 1:00 – 2:00 pm The Administration for Community Living (ACL)/US Department of Health and Human Services, will host a webinar “Addressing Social Isolation through Technology Solutions.” Majd Alwan and Scott Code of LeadingAge CAST will present. Click here to register.

National

LeadingAge Need to Know: Coronavirus - 6.23.20

House Democrats Propose Housing, Healthcare Infrastructure Package On June 18th, House Democrats introduced a new bill titled the “Moving Forward Act,” which would invest $1.5 trillion to improve the nation’s housing, roads, bridges, schools, and broadband access. LeadingAge has urged lawmakers to include senior housing any infrastructure initiatives. More

Infection Control Bill Introduced in the House An Infection Control Training and Support Act (HR 7254) bill was introduced in the House yesterday by Representatives Kind, Kildee, Upton, and Burgess. The language is the same as was included in the House passed Heroes Act, authorizing CMS to contract with a QIO to provide infection control support to SNFs. The QIO would develop protocols to promote infection control and training materials.

New Claims Data Released, CMS calls for Renewed Commitment to Value Based Care. CMS released claims data, illustrating an early snapshot of the impact of COVID on the Medicare population. CMS and the President commented in a press release that the fee for service system is “insufficient for the most vulnerable Americans because it limits payment to what goes on in a doctor’s office.” They said that a value based system encourages care for the whole person and enables clinicians to address social risk factors critical to quality of life. Following are links to additional info:

• Preliminary Medicare COVID-19 Data Snapshot • COVID-19 Data Release External FAQs • Medicare COVID-19 Data Release Blog

PPE: Counterfeit or Real? FEMA recently joined a LeadingAge COVID-19 call to share how to identify fraudulent respirators, such as decorative fabrics and other PPE. FEMA referred to this fact sheet on how to identify counterfeit respirators and to this webpage where there is information on optimizing respirators and other PPE.

Pandemic Disaster Preparedness FEMA published an exercise starter kit for providers to update emergency response plans during the health crisis. The kit includes samples slides and discussion questions for providers across the continuum to adapt current hurricane (or other) disaster response plans to the pandemic.

Nursing Home Commission Update CMS’s contractor, MITRE, announced the 25 members selected from over 800 applicants of the Coronavirus Commission for Safety and Quality in Nursing Homes. Jeannee Parker Martin, President and CEO of LeadingAge California, is among the members of the new commission, as are several other LeadingAge members. The membership is highly diverse, including providers, private foundations, consumer advocates, academics, state officials and others. The group will focus on best practices for nursing home infection control. The commission will begin its work immediately and complete its immediate and long-term recommendations before September 1.

"Reopening" to Visitors: A Review of States' Guidance for AL As of this writing, ten states or jurisdictions have developed “reopening guidelines” that include Assisted Living. Below, we summarize the core areas where states have offered guidance, primarily related to family visitors, communal dining, and group activities. As additional states issue guidance, we will update this article accordingly. More

Telehealth May Be Here to Stay – One Question Survey The response to COVID-19 has increased access to telehealth, and those changes may be here to stay. Read on for expected changes in waivers, coming data privacy and cybersecurity concerns, guidance for skilled nursing facilities, and more. But first, please tell LeadingAge CAST how you are using telehealth during the pandemic. Please take LeadingAge’s one-question COVID-19 Telehealth Pulse Survey so they can design resources to support you.

Taskforce on Telehealth he National Committee on Quality Assurance, The American Telemedicine Association, and the Alliance for Connected Care are convening a 20 person panel to develop consensus recommendations for policymakers on how to maximize the benefits of telehealth services while maintaining high standards for patient safety and program integrity. Other priorities to be addressed include the integration of remote care into the healthcare ecosystem and ensuring the quality, accessibility, and efficacy of telehealth. The group is comprised of public and private sector stakeholders. More

HUD Proposes New RAD for PRAC Forms, Provides RAD Updates Recently, HUD issued several new forms for PRAC properties undergoing a conversion through HUD’s Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program. LeadingAge is working with members to provide feedback to the agency. More

Medicare Coverage of COVID-19 Testing for Nursing Home Residents and Patients CMS instructed Medicare Administrative Contactors and notified Medicare Advantage plans to cover coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) laboratory tests for nursing home residents and patients. This instruction follows the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) recent update of COVID-19 testing guidelines for nursing homes that provides recommendations for testing of nursing home residents and patients with symptoms consistent with COVID-19 as well as for asymptomatic residents and patients who have been exposed to COVID like in an outbreak. Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans will cover COVID-19 lab tests consistent with CDC guidance. More

Thermal Imaging to Screen for COVID-19 Several LeadingAge Provider Members have inquired about temperature check and thermal monitoring systems to help screen residents, staff, and visitors for fevers that may indicate COVID-19. CAST Executive Director Majd Alwan, Ph.D., has provided guidance to help you review your options. More

Member Resources

Staff Travel Resources

• COVID-19 Staff Travel and Social Gathering Risk Screening Tool: Download this new screening tool to help your staff assess their risks as they plan summer travel and social gatherings. • Hebrew Senior Life (MASS): Covid-19 Employee Travel Restrictions and Guidance • CDC: Domestic Travel • CDC International Travel • CDC Travel Communication Tools • CDC Cruise Ship Travel • CDC: Deciding to Go Out Tool

New Resources from LeadingAge

• "Reopening" to Visitors: A Review of States' Guidance for Assisted Living • HUD Proposes New RAD for PRAC Forms, Provides RAD Updates • House Democrats Propose Housing, Healthcare Infrastructure Package • Senior Housing Weekly: Recap of LeadingAge Updates

Is CMS Saying Your Nursing Home Didn’t Report into NHSN? Here’s a quick tool to help nursing homes that are told by CMS that they didn’t report to the CDC National Healthcare Safety Network, even though the nursing home thinks it reported. The tool describes what might have gone wrong and offers links for help correcting the errors. LeadingAge Shares Op-ed Template to Promote Needs of Providers LeadingAge has shared a second op-ed template that members can use for placement in newspapers. This timely message aligns with the news cycle around re-openings and potential infection resurgence, and what our field needs from state and federal policymakers.

This is designed to be a guide for your unique localized message. To maximize the impact and the likelihood of getting this placed in your key outlets, be sure to customize as much as possible. In addition to several placeholders for local statistics, details and stories, an optional section on the problems with FEMA PPE shipments allows the opportunity to speak to any significant issues your organization has had acquiring PPE.

PPE Resources The Department of General Services provided a list of vendors that are offering supplies and services geared to assist the Commonwealth with the COVID-19 pandemic. Click here for All PPE Resources

New CDC Guidance: Assessments for Healthcare Workers with Potential Exposure and Return to Work

• CDC Criteria for Return to Work for Healthcare Personnel with Suspected or Confirmed COVID- 19 (Interim Guidance) • CDC Interim U.S. Guidance for Risk Assessment and Work Restrictions for Healthcare Personnel with Potential Exposure to COVID-19

Guidance: Reopening in Virginia - Member Perspective and Resources

• Reopening Considerations for Affordable Housing Providers In this 19-minute Quick Cast, Juliana Bilowich reviews reopening guidance from HUD and the CDC, as well as important factors senior housing communities should consider for long-term crisis recovery. • Dining Reopening Resource: Thanks to our Platinum Elite Sponsor Sodexo for sharing this dining reopening plan and checklist. • Reopening Virginia: Considerations for Employers and Businesses from Gold Elite Sponsor McGuireWoods • CDC: Domestic Travel • Preparing to Resume LPC Dining Services • Reopening in Virginia: Member Perspective and Resources • Virginia’s Reopening Guidance • Letter to Residents Regarding Mask Usage • LeadingAge Guidance: Recovery Considerations for Life Plan Communities • LeadingAge Guidance: Recovery Considerations for Affordable Housing Providers • Reopening Considerations for Nursing Homes • PS Salon & Spa ACCORD plan for reopening • COVID-19 Staff Travel and Social Gathering Risk Screening Tool

LeadingAge Virginia TV 12 hours of resident engagement programming streamed to your community at no charge. Click here to learn more and sign up (you must be logged-in with your LeadingAge Virginia username and password). Program schedules are updated every 2-3 days. Click here for the program schedule for June 23-24. Contact Sydney Thomas at [email protected] to receive future schedules by e-mail.

Advance Care Planning Conversations During Times of Crisis In this 17-minute QuickCast, Judy Peres discusses the importance of honest conversations about preferences for care and what matters most to residents and family members—and how to manage grief and personal stress for frontline workers. Testing Letter Template for Housing Providers LeadingAge developed a template email/letter to help affordable housing providers partner with their local health departments on diagnostic testing and other supports through COVID-19. The template helps providers locate their help department based on zip code or city/county, and then requests support based on the challenges for housing providers and their residents to access testing.

New Materials for the Basic Care Aide Skill Competency Training Tool Maximize your workforce and maintain quality standards with LeadingAge’s new Basic Care Aide Skill Competency Training Tool. The new, free, 9-hour training will help you redeploy current staff, and train displaced workers and others new to our field. Developed by EduCare©, this new program is designed specifically for the Basic Care Aide role and provides a foundation for the skills for a variety of settings. The training tool is FREE to members and is available now on the Learning Hub and check out the new promotional toolkit to help you spread the word about the training.

Train Nurses to be Managers with NurseLEAD Promoting nurses to be leaders in our fast-changing environment? Register your staff for “NurseLead” (Nurse Leadership Enrichment and Development), an online training program to help charge nurses and team leaders become more effective coaches, leaders and supervisors of frontline staff. Nurses play a critical role in our settings by motivating, teaching and improving the skills and performance of nursing assistants – but many aren’t prepared to take on this role. NurseLead was designed to address this gap. More.

Important COVID-19 Contact Information

• Auxiliary Grant: [email protected] • Businesses - COVID-19 Questions: [email protected] • CCC Plus: [email protected] • CMS: [email protected] • DMAS: [email protected] • LeadingAge National: [email protected] • Price Gouging Complaints: Virginia Office of the Attorney General • Regional HealthCare Coalitions • VHASS

Ongoing Member Support If you receive a positive diagnosis in your community, staff or resident, after calling the Department of Health, reach out to Melissa Andrews on her cell at (202) 360-1296 or [email protected].

As always, if you have any regulatory issues or need technical assistance, reach out to Dana Parsons at [email protected].

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