LARA-BCHS Releases Infection Control Scenario Survey Guidance This morning, Larry Horvath, Director Bureau Community Health Systems (BCHS) and Michelle Roepke, Director Federal Survey & Certification Division of the Michigan Department of Licensing & Regulatory Affairs (LARA) presented a regulatory update for the MI-NADONA Convocation. During this presentation, Larry Horvath shared excerpts from an internal document that was used to educate surveyors and survey managers over the past week.
The LARA-BCHS Resident-Related Infection Prevention and Control Scenarios was also shared with HCAM, and has been identified to be a working document. Ongoing updates are expected to be shared with the association and will be pushed out to members.
Mr. Horvath shared his expectation that the scenario guidance be utilized to provide clarity in the interpretation of guidance as it applies to survey situations and citing for non-compliance. The scenario's cover situations such as residents receiving dialysis, leaving the facility for one-time appointments, new admissions, and exposures. In addition, a link to guidance related to memory care units is included.
NOTE: For those in attendance during the presentation this morning, Mr. Horvath's comments regarding the need for N-95 mask use only during aerosol producing procedures is not accurate for facilities who have adopted the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) guidance as the basis for infection control policies. CDC guidance related to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) use does indicate N-95s should be utilized for when providing care to residents with known or suspected COVID-19.
MDHHS Releases Guidance and Application on Visitation Grants, Infection Control Grants The Michigan Department of Health & Human Services (MDHHS) shared guidance and the application for providers to apply for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Civil Money Penalty (CMP) Reinvestment Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) In-Person Visitation Aids Request grant funds. These funds can be utilized by providers to purchase tents or barriers to aid in facilitating outdoor visitation.
Funding for tents and plexiglass or other barrier type products are limited to a maximum of $3,000 per facility. Note, when installing tents, facilities must ensure appropriate Life Safety Code (LSC) requirements found at 42 CFR 483.90 are met, unless waived under the Public Health Emergency (PHE) declaration.
The application for the Visitation Grants may be found HERE. Once completed, applications should be submitted via email to MDHHS-visitgrants@michigan.gov by December 1, 2020.
MDHHS also shared a Tent Fact Sheet with helpful information related to use and LSC requirements.
Applications for Infection Control Grant Funds can still be submitted through October 31, 2020. If you have not yet submitted an application to utilize funds for the purchase of infection control equipment, consider completing and submitting before the application period ends on the 31st.
AFC HFA Licensing Division Releases Updated COVID-19 FAQ Jay Calewarts, Adult Foster Care (AFC) and Homes For the Aged (HFA) Licensing Division Director contacted MCAL to share the department is releasing updated COVID-19 FAQs. Following is a short summary of the changes:
These changes will also soon be available on the LARA website.
Dockerty Elected to NCAL Board of Directors Recently, the National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL) elected their Board of Directors for the 2020/2021 term including MCAL's Todd Dockerty of Dockerty Health Care Services, as an At-large Representative.
"This year's NCAL Board incorporates leaders from across the nation that will go above and beyond to help our assisted living members succeed," said Scott Tittle, the executive director of NCAL. "Now more than ever, we need strong individuals to lead us in this fight against COVID-19, and this group is prepared to do just that."
The NCAL Board of Directors is elected by current members of the NCAL Board and by NCAL State Leaders.
MCAL CEO, Linda Lawther shared that MCAL is honored to have Todd represent Michigan on the NCAL Board. Todd is a past MCAL Board Chair and a dedicated member.
Congratulations to Todd!
CNA Staffing Summit Announced The National Association of Health Care Assistants (NAHCA) and Certified Nursing Aides (CNA) for Quality Care announce the first-ever CNA Staffing Summit to be held on October 20, 2020 from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm ET. The Summit was organized following the release of the Coronavirus Commission for Safety and Quality in Nursing Homes report, which contains a number of recommendations that affect direct care staff, NAHCA shared. The CNA Staffing Summit will convene nursing home operators, administrators, nursing staff, directors of nursing, HR professionals, recruiters, and others with the intent of creating a more unified workforce.
A panel of nine career CNAs from nursing homes around the country will be moderated by NAHCA Chief Executive Officer Lori Porter. Harvard Professor David Grabowski, PhD, will examine the state of the research on COVID-19 and direct care staff. Medical Epidemiologist for Long-Term Care at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Nimalie Stone, MD, is invited to speak as well, NAHCA said.
In addition to education, CNAs and others will address what matters most to direct care staff - engagement, recognition, and recruitment. "The purpose of this is to not only bring together the entire nursing home workforce ecosystem but also to dig into the unfettered truth about what CNAs and their team members need to be more effective, more engaged, and, frankly, more appreciated," said Porter, who recently served on the Coronavirus Commission.
Additional information and registration is available at the NAHCA website.
For questions or concerns please contact Cathy Sunlin at CathySunlin@HCAM.org.
October 15, 2020 |