LARA & MDHHS Clarifying CMS Guidance on Visitation On September 17, 2020 the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released QSO-20-39-NH, outlining expanded guidance for visitation within nursing facilities. The association has been working with both the Michigan Department of Licensing & Regulatory Affairs (LARA) and the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services (MDHHS) to determine how the newly released federal guidance intersects with the current MDHHS Epidemic Order.
Today, Larry Horvath Director Bureau of Community Health Systems (BCHS) issued an email and letter signed by LARA Director Orlene Hawks and MDHHS Director Robert Gordon. This letter shares the departments have requested urgent clarification from CMS regarding the conflicts between the CMS federal guidance and Michigan Epidemic Orders. In the meantime while awaiting clarification, long term care providers are expected to adhere to the guidance issued in the MDHHS Epidemic Order. This guidance allows for outdoor visitation in situations where the provider can maintain infection prevention controls and in conjunction with the local health department determination of community prevalence.
Additional information will be shared as it becomes available.
Post Payment Notice of Provider Relief Funds Reporting Requirements Have you received funding from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Provider Relief Fund (PRF)? If you answered no, you may want to check again. You could have received funding without even realizing that you have!
The US Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) has released new reporting that will allow providers to demonstrate compliance with the terms and conditions related to the funding distributions received. We encourage all providers, including skilled nursing facilities and assisted living settings to review any receipt of CARES Act funds and understand the reporting requirements ties to each.
HHS has developed a dataset showing the list of providers who have attested to receiving one or more payments and agreed to the terms and conditions. In addition, this site has information on other COVID-19 funding amounts distributed outside of the PRF.
Providers should review reporting requirements that were recently updated to ensure compliance with the acceptance of PRF funds. Please note that these reporting requirements do not apply to the Nursing Home Infection Control distribution.
Separate reporting requirements will be announced for these distributions. To learn more, join HCAM/MCAL and Betsy Rust of Plante & Moran, in the HCAM/MCAL Annual Convention Session, Reimbursement Update on Wednesday September 23, 2020 at 10:30 am EST. To register, go HERE.
CMS National Nursing Home Call TODAY The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) received the final report from the independent Coronavirus Commission for Safety and Quality in Nursing Homes (Commission). Please join CMS Chief Medical Officer Lee Fleisher, MD and agency officials for a National Stakeholder Call with Nursing Homes to discuss the announcement, today from 2:00 - 2:30 PM Eastern.
Toll Free Dial-In Number: (833) 614-0820
CMP Grants For Communication Devices Filing Deadline Extended
Contact MDHHS at MDHHS-CMPGRANTS@Michigan.gov. The subject line of the email should include the facility name and "CMP electronic device grant."
Last week, HCAM shared in QSO-20-39-NH the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) that skilled nursing providers would have the opportunity to apply to use Civil Monetary Penalty (CMP) funds to purchase tents or barriers to support outdoor visitation.
The Michigan Department of Health & Human Services (MDHHS) is responsible to accepting CMP grant applications and distributing these funds. MDHHS has asked that providers hold off on applying for these funds until the department has developed an application form. In the meantime, questions can be addressed to MDHHS-CMPGrants@michigan.gov.
For questions or concerns please contact Cathy Sunlin at CathySunlin@HCAM.org.
Sept. 21, 2020 |