The Lead July 22, 2021 - LeadingAge Illinois

From the Desk of Karen Messer, President and CEO

Supportive Living:
MCO On-Site Visits
COVID-19 Reporting

Independent/Subsidized Housing:
Affordable Housing Providers Asked to Complete Quarterly Survey

Home Health and Hospice:
Home Health and Hospice Rule Feedback Discussion
Add the July 29 Home Health and Hospice Town Hall Zoom Link to Your Calendar

Other:
TANs and Pendings Update
Impending Deadlines
Visit the LeadingAge Illinois Website for Resources and More
Announcing the New Aging Services Emerging Leaders Group
Everything You Need and Want to Know about Provider Relief Reporting
MMAI Statewide Expansion

From the Desk of Karen Messer, President and CEO
Please tell your members of U.S. Congress to include investments for older adults and the providers who serve them. Congress has begun developing a $3.5 trillion infrastructure investment package so now is the moment to make sure U.S. Representatives and Senators hear the your voice.

The infrastructure package must include:

$400 billion for Home and Community-Based Services, including: sufficient funding to identify and serve older people who are eligible, increasing FMAP for HCBS by 10 points for 10 years, double investment in Older Americans Act supportive services, connecting HCBS and HUD-assisted units, incentivizing states to expand the PACE model, and investing in new models of care to support older adults in home and community.
Enhanced federal investment in the LTSS workforce across the entire continuum of aging services, in order to support recruitment, training, advancement opportunities, and increased wages. Ensure equity in access to increased workforce funding across payment systems.
$7.5 billion for HUD’s Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly program to expand the supply of affordable senior housing, increase the number of Service Coordinators, and provide internet in these homes.
Expansion of Medicare to include dental, hearing, and vision services.

Now is the time to act, so please send a message to your U.S. Representative and Senators today!

As always, thank you for your actions and advocacy.

With gratitude,

Karen

Top Stories:

Federal Public Health Emergency Renewed
As expected, U.S. Healthcare and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Becerra renewed the national COVID-19 Public Health Emergency this week. The renewal is good for 90 days and available here. With this extension, the 1135 federal blanket waivers issued by CMS are also extended. CMS is continuously monitoring the waivers and may make changes based on what they feel the necessity of these waivers may be.

HFS Submits Spending Plan and Narrative to CMS on Enhanced FMAP for HCBS
On July 12, the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) submitted their spending plan and narrative on the America Rescue Plan funds to CMS. The federal government now has 30 days to respond. Click here to view the plan/narrative.

Funding of $103 Million from American Rescue Plan Dedicated to Reducing Burnout and Promote Mental Health in the Health Care Workforce
The U.S. Healthcare and Human Services (HHS)announced that the Health Resources and Services Administration would be administering $103 million through three funding opportunities related to reducing health care worker burnout and promoting workforce mental health and wellness. There are three different funding opportunities. Health care providers appear eligible to apply for the first and third opportunities.

Promoting Resilience and Mental Health Among Health Professional Workforce: Estimated to issue $29 million over three years to roughly 10 health care organizations to support their workforce through evidence-informed programs or protocols related to a culture of wellness. The goal of the PRMHW program is for health care organizations to adopt, promote, implement, and demonstrate an organizational culture of wellness that includes resilience and mental health for their health professional workforce.
Health and Public Safety Workforce Resiliency Training Program (HPSWRTP): $68M over three years for up to 30 awards to educational institutions and other state, local, tribal, public or private nonprofits who train individuals early in their careers. The goal of HPSWRTP is to reduce and address burnout, suicide, mental health conditions and substance use disorders and promote resiliency among health care students, residents, professionals, paraprofessionals, trainees, public safety officers, and employers of such individuals, particularly in rural and medically underserved communities. These awardees will do this by developing some of the strategies, protocols and systemwide approaches that the health care provider organizations can deploy
Health and Public Safety Workforce Resiliency Technical Assistance Center : One cooperative agreement for up to a total of $6 million over three years. The purpose of this program is to provide tailored training and technical assistance (TA) to support Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA’s) health workforce resiliency grant recipients .

Applications for each of the funding opportunities are due August 30, 2021.

New “Healing Together” Campaign to Address Mental Health Aspects of Pandemic
AMDA’s new Behavioral & Mental Health Advisory Council is starting the Healing Together campaign, to address issues of COVID-related grief, trauma, and resilience in PALTC staff and leadership. The Campaign is designed to recognize that the vaccine may have helped significantly reduce COVID cases in PALTC settings, but it won’t magically wipe away the raw feelings and emotions that are still at the surface for many of those working in nursing homes. The campaign will kick off today with a webinar presentation by Paige Hector, with webinars every six weeks, as well as provide resources and further discussion on a new mobile app. Here is a link to register for the webinar series. In addition, AMDA is asking interested individuals to complete this short survey so that their Behavioral and Mental Health Advisory Council can identify the best ways to support post-acute and long term care providers.

Noncompliance with SNF and Hospice Quality Reporting
SNF and Hospice providers who are non-compliant with their respective Quality Reporting Programs should have received a noncompliance letter from CMS last week. Providers can check QIES system to see if they have a notice. Non-compliant providers will have their FY2022 Medicare payments reduced by 2%. If a provider believes they have received this notice in error, they may request reconsideration from CMS but must do so no later than Aug. 13.

Supportive Living:

MCO On-Site Visits
The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) Bureaus of Long Term Care & Managed Care developed guidance for MCO staff to resume on-site service planning visits at Supportive Living Provider (SLP) communities. On-site visits will be conducted by MCOs in the near future for new admissions, new Medicaid managed care enrollees and annual service plans.

MCO staff will be following similar requirements as HFS staff for on-site visits. There is not currently an official date when on-site service planning visits will begin. MCOs have to develop and implement procedures that will comply with the requirements outlined by HFS. In addition to the written guidance, the MCO’s were provided with various COVID 19 and infection control resources, including the May 6 IDPH Guidance and links to information on the CDC’s website. Below is information that was provided to MCO staff.

Routine Testing Requirements for Those Completing On-Site Visits:

Staff who are fully vaccinated and willing to verify their COVID-19 vaccination status do not require regular weekly COVID-19 testing. Fully vaccinated is defined as 14 days after the single dose vaccine or 14 days after the 2^nd dose of the two-step vaccine.
Staff who are not fully vaccinated or do not wish to provide verification of their vaccination status will need to undergo weekly COVID 19 testing.
If you are in the 90 day recovery period from COVID 19, obtain a written statement from your health care professional. Persons in the recovery period should not be tested for COVID 19.

Do Not Complete an On-Site Visit If:

You are experiencing signs or symptoms of COVID 19, even if you are fully vaccinated.
You have tested positive for COVID 19 in the past 10 days.
You have had a high risk exposure to a person who tested positive for COVID 19 in the past 14 days (within less than 6 feet of the individual for 15 minutes or more during a 24 hour period).
The SLP community is in outbreak status, which means there has been at least one facility onset or associated case of COVID 19 in the past 14 days. Check with the SLP provider when scheduling your on-site visit and again upon arrival to the building.

When Conducting an On-Site Visit:

Wear a medical grade face mask. You may choose to wear additional Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to meet your own comfort level.
Comply with the SLP provider’s assessment upon your arrival to the building.
Maintain 6 feet of physical distance from others.
If you visit an enrollee who is not fully vaccinated, he/she must wear a face covering, unless physically or cognitively unable to do so.
Do not visit with enrollees who have tested positive for COVID 19, who are exhibiting symptoms of COVID 19 or are in quarantine. Check with SLP staff before visiting a specific enrollee. SLP staff are checking residents’ vitals daily and assessing them for signs and symptoms of COVID 19.
In accordance with CDC hand washing guidance, wash your hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after touching equipment or surfaces shared with others, such as door handles, printers, etc. If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.

COVID-19 Reporting
The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) indicates they are seeing an increase in positive COVID tests for staff and residents. When submitting reports of positive test results to HFS, they ask for you to include the individual’s vaccination status in the Comment column (fully vaccinated/partially vaccinated/unvaccinated). If you do not have the excel sheet reports for submissions, you can contact Kara Helton to receive them. You can also contact Jessica Gordon for more information on reporting.

Assisted Living:

Argentum Updates
In yesterday’s virtual meeting with the Argentum policy staff, we were updated on the following.

Provider Relief Funds:
Phase 4 Funding appears to be imminent since the fund is in the Office of Management and Budget now. Argentum continues to advocate for additional funding for assisted living.

Today, LeadingAge Illinois contacted the offices of U.S. Senators Durbin and Duckworth to urge them to oppose any efforts that would decrease financial resources currently in the Provider Relief Fund as this would exacerbate an assisted living industry that already has 70% of its providers operating at a loss and a significant number teetering on the brink of closure.

Infrastructure:
There is a vehicle bill in the U.S. Senate currently. For the major infrastructure package, Argentum has a goal of ensuring assisted living communities are eligible to receive funding. The larger package will likely start in the U.S. House.

Music Licensing:
Argentum is working on a toolkit for members, leading them through legal considerations related to playing music and media in communities. The music licensing issue does also include use of Spotify, Alexa, and other related players. More information is to come on this longstanding issue.

Independent/Subsidized Housing:

Affordable Housing Providers Asked to Complete Quarterly Survey
It’s time for the LeadingAge quarterly affordable housing survey. Members are asked fill out this 5-minute pulse check on a number of issues, including on accessibility features at affordable housing communities and operational challenges. The information we collect helps LeadingAge advocacy with HUD and Congress, helps determine the kinds of materials to produce for housing members, and helps you understand how your peers are doing during the pandemic. Please complete the survey by Friday, July 23.

Home Health and Hospice:

Home Health and Hospice Rule Feedback Discussion
LeadingAge will hold one session on hospice survey reform proposals and one on the home health proposals.

Hospice Survey Reform Discussion is July 26 at 12:30 p.m. CST.
Home Health Discussion is August 3 at 2 p.m. CST.

Add the July 29 Home Health and Hospice Town Hall Zoom Link to Your Calendar
The home health and hospice town hall is a forum for you to provide input on LeadingAge’s Home Health and Hospice policy priorities. It will be held on July 29at 12 p.m. CST. Please add this Zoom ink to your calendar to join us – https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81088990896?pwd=WjNZc1hlcEwra2M1ZG1Tcllrb20yZz09#success

Other:

TANs and Pendings Update
LeadingAge Illinois Medicaid Consultant, Matt Werner, has provided an update on Transaction Audit Numbers (TANs) and Medicaid Pendings.

Impending Deadlines
We want to keep you updated with reminders of items that have deadlines coming up. Check here each newsletter for updates.

July 23: LeadingAge Affordable Housing Providers Quarterly Survey. Please complete the survey.
August 20: Submit Comments on OSHA Emergency Temporary Standard. Deadline has been extended until August 20.
August 30: Funding of $103 Million from American Rescue Plan Dedicated to Reducing Burnout and Promote Mental Health in the Health Care Workforce. Applications for each of the funding opportunities are due August 30.

Visit the LeadingAge Illinois Website for Resources and More
Be sure to frequently visit the LeadingAge Illinois website for the latest resources and information to assist you and your staff. Our website resource include:

View these resources and much more at our website.

Announcing the New Aging Services Emerging Leaders Group
Do you have an emerging leader or are interested in growing your leadership skills and network? Consider joining!

We are excited to announce a new and FREE Emerging Leaders group, designed for anyone who identifies as an “up-and-coming” leader in aging services! Participants may include, but are not limited to those new to their organization and/or industry, in a new position, or interested in leadership development and networking opportunities with other members of LeadingAge Illinois.

Join us for a monthly Emerging Leaders Lunch & Learn on the “Final Friday” (last Friday of each month) from 12pm-1pm. This will be a hybrid virtual and in-person group with an in-person social event to be held at the LeadingAge Illinois Annual Meeting in May 2022. All are welcome to join and attend the Lunch & Learn educational sessions (as your schedule allows). Emerging Leaders is brought to you by LeadingAge Illinois in collaboration with Emma Imes, Strategic Initiatives Manager of Mather and Laura Edwards, Director of Strategic Initiatives of Clark-Lindsey.

If you are interested in joining the Emerging Leaders group or becoming a session leader, contact LeadingAge Illinois staff. Please see the Emerging Leaders Lunch & Learn Schedule (the last Friday of the following months from 12pm-1pm)

Everything You Need and Want to Know about Provider Relief Reporting
All LeadingAge National members who received Provider Relief Fund payments between April 10 and June 30, 2020 are now required to submit reports on the use of those funds. These reports are due September 30. LeadingAge is hosting a webinar on July 27 from 1-2:30 p.m. CST with CLA, to assist aging services providers in understanding the new reporting requirements and strategies for how to approach the required reporting. This webinar will also help prepare assisted living and Medicaid providers who received later PRF payments and are required to report in the next reporting period.

MMAI Statewide Expansion
The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) is expanding the MMAI program statewide. Two passive enrollment cohorts have already been completed for September 1 and October 1 effective dates. These two cohorts contained clients who were eligible to enroll in the MMAI program only and did not involve clients already enrolled in an LTSS HealthChoice plan.

The final two passive enrollment cohorts will be done in August for a November 1 effective date and in September for a December 1 effective date. Within these two cohorts, HFS will identify MMAI eligible clients already enrolled in a LTSS HealthChoice plan and passively enroll the clients into an MMAI plan. The passive enrollment algorithm makes every attempt to assign clients to a plan that fits their needs by looking at the client’s Medicare Advantage enrollment if any, LTC facility if any and most recent MCO enrollments but voluntary choice is strongly encouraged because clients and their families know the client’s needs best.

Passively enrolled clients will receive an initial enrollment packet and then a second enrollment packet approximately 30 days later at their address of record in the DHS/HFS system. Clients in the August cohort (November 1 effective date) will receive their initial enrollment packet in August and their second packet in September. September cohort clients (December 1 effective date) will receive their initial packet in September with their second enrollment packet arriving in October.

Eligible clients may contact Illinois Client Enrollment Services at 1.877.912.8880 (Monday to Friday, 8 am to 6 pm) to enroll in an MMAI plan available in their area. Each MMAI plan offers extra benefits to their enrollees. The extra benefits can be reviewed on the CES web site by choosing MMAI in the Select Program section and then the appropriate county.

Clients also have the option to opt out of the MMAI program at any time. Of course, if the client resides in a LTC or SLF facility or receives HCBS waiver services, they will still be required to be in a LTSS HealthChoice plan.

For ease of reference, the agency’s most recent provider notice regarding MMAI statewide expansion can be found here.