The Lead February 9, 2021
Top Stories:
From the Desk of Karen Messer, President and CEO
Important Update on HB3360
Vaccinations Update
Weekly Update on Transaction Audit Numbers and Medicaid Pendings
HFS Notices on Lab Testing and Claims Submittal and LTC Monthly Occupied Bed Assessment
IDPH COVID-19 Webinars for Long Term Care and Congregate Settings
Vaccine Education Resources for Staff, Residents, and Families
Testing Resources
Independent Affordable/Subsidized Housing:
LeadingAge Illinois HUD Member Regional Monthly Meeting
LeadingAge Housing Advisory Group Update
Others:
Artmails Program
N95 Fit Testing Services
Personal Protective Equipment Update
Support the LeadingAge Illinois PAC
LeadingAge Coronavirus Update Calls
LeadingAge, Pathway Health Toolkits on Activities Reopening and PPE
Top Stories:
From the Desk of Karen Messer, President and CEO
I wanted to make sure you are aware of a webinar tomorrow at 11 a.m. CST. CMS’s “CCSQ Lessons from the Front Line Call” will focus on health care professional well-being and resilience. Here’s the announcement and registration link. Please consider taking part in this session. We also continue to update our Vaccine Education Resources for Staff, Residents, and Families in this newsletter, ensuring you have access to the most updated resources and information.
With gratitude,
Karen
Important Update on HB3360
HB3360, as amended by Senate Amendment #1, passed the legislature late in the Lame Duck Session last month and provides for sweeping allowance for recovery of prejudgment interest (9%) in actions brought to recover for personal injury. You may recall an alert on this legislation in mid-January. We continue to urge the Governor to veto the legislation. There are close to 150 organizations strong opposing this legislation and urging a veto. If the legislation becomes law, we will work to introduce and pass legislation this session removing language from the Nursing Home Care Act requiring the payment of attorneys fees. We also will look for other solutions to negate the impact to provider settings. With legal counsel, we are meeting with Ann Spillane, general counsel to the Governor, today along with the other two long term care associations and their legal representatives. We will urge the counsel and the Governor to veto this legislation.
Vaccinations Update
Today’s update includes:
- Continued Vaccine Access
- First Dose at Third Clinic
- LeadingAge Vaccine FAQs
- One Provider’s Experience with Mandating Vaccines for Staff
Continued Vaccine Access:
The CDC shared three ways long-term care communities can continue their vaccine access after the imminent ending of the Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care. First, communities can work with long-term care pharmacies enrolled with the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program. Second, communities can work with long-term care pharmacies enrolled with their state to provide the vaccine. For both the first and second options, it is possible that the community could enroll to be a subcontractor to facilitate vaccine distribution. Third, the community could follow its state’s immunization provider guidelines to become a COVID-19 vaccine administrator itself. Read more about the CDC’s continuity suggestions here.
First Dose at Third Clinic:|
The CDC shared an FAQ, which should be published on its website soon, on third clinics conducted as part of the Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care Program. The CDC addresses a common question as long-term care communities hold their last of three clinics under the Program: whether staff and residents can receive their first vaccine dose at a community’s third clinic. While the CDC wants to optimize vaccination opportunities, “some jurisdictions have asked pharmacy partners not to initiate first dose vaccinations at third clinics. In this case, [long-term care communities] and pharmacy partners should follow jurisdictional guidance,” the CDC’s FAQ says. The FAQ addresses how to approach staff or residents receiving their first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech or the Moderna vaccine at the third on-site clinic. The guidance between the two differs because of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine’s unique cold chain requirements. “It is important to determine in advance how staff and residents who receive their first dose of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at a third clinic will access their second dose,” the CDC says. Read the FAQ here.
LeadingAge Vaccine FAQs:
The LeadingAge FAQs on vaccines have been updated to reflect progress on the new Johnson & Johnson vaccine. The first hearing on the J&J EUA is set for February 26.
One Provider’s Experience with Mandating Vaccines for Staff:
Here’s an article with details provided by Scott Crabtree and Jere Hale of Lambeth House in New Orleans, Louisiana describing their decision to mandate that all staff be vaccinated and how the requirement played out. Lambeth House staff are almost 100% vaccinated at this point.
Weekly Update on Transaction Audit Numbers and Medicaid Pendings
LeadingAge Illinois Consultant, Matt Werner, Werner Consulting
The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) is making a strong effort to addressing issues beyond the current crisis by improving transparency. HFS deserves credit. HFS is posting a report of Transaction Authorization Numbers (“TANs”) with current status codes to give a detail level understanding of issues. More transparency is a step in the right direction.
This report includes data through the week of February 8, 2021. There is a one-week lag in data, so this data represents actions through February 5, 2021. An individual TAN may include an application for Medicaid eligibility in addition to the request to approve an LTC admission. The weekly TAN report does not identify which TANs have pending application, but all at least represent a pending LTC admission. The weekly update here will focus only on admissions because of this while any update to the monthly report will include pending applications.
The backlog dropped to 143 this week. There are no residents in provisional status for the last several weeks.
Author: LeadingAge Illinois Consultant, Matt Werner, Werner Consulting
U.S. House Committees Releasing Sections of Relief Bill
The U.S. House Committees of jurisdiction are releasing pieces of the next COVID relief package that will be considered through the budget reconciliation process. The release includes the nine legislative proposals under the Committee’s jurisdiction; these nine proposals include provisions specific to nursing homes, as well as other big ticket items such as like direct assistance for working families, unemployment benefits, and others.
They make up more than half of the total $1.9 trillion package. The Education & Labor Committee sections of the bill include raising the minimum wage to $15 by 2025, OSHA worker protections, and funding for Elder Justice and Older Americans Act programs. The Financial Services Committee, charged with drafting legislation totaling $75 billion released a bill that includes housing provisions and will convene Wednesday. In the coming days LeadingAge will offer articles and analyses and will provide information on Update Calls later this week.
HFS Notices on Lab Testing and Claims Submittal and LTC Monthly Occupied Bed Assessment
The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) has issued two notices this week.
LTC Monthly Occupied Bed Assessment:
First, they report that the Illinois Comptroller’s Office has issued warrants for October 2020 long term care services. The following assessment payment will be due February 16, 2021: Monthly Occupied Bed Provider Assessment for long term care providers for the January, 2021 assessment period/October 2020 reporting period is due February 16, 2021.
Lab Testing and Claims Submittal Related to COVID-19 – Launch of HFS COVID Portal:
This notice provides updated information to that communicated in the July 17, 2020 and September 25, 2020 provider notices regarding the Department’s deployment of an online portal for reimbursement of COVID-19 testing services for uninsured individuals who have been tested for COVID-19. Claims for participants enrolled in a HealthChoice Illinois health plan should be billed to the appropriate managed care plan.
IDPH COVID-19 Webinars for Long Term Care and Congregate Settings
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) continues to hold weekly webinars on COVID-19 for Long Term Care and Congregate Settings. There are important updates and information shared on each webinar pertinent to LeadingAge Illinois member settings. There is also a Q&A during the sessions. Most webinars go from 1-2 p.m. Slides and recordings of the webinars are sent to participants afterwards and they will also appear in the Lead.
Register for the upcoming webinars:
There are high numbers of participants on each webinar, so if you have trouble getting in, email Michael Moore at IDPH.
Vaccine Education Resources for Staff, Residents, and Families
In order to encourage maximum vaccination participation, we are providing you with education and resources you can use with your staff, residents, and families. We will continue to provide updated resources as we have them.
The COVID -19 vaccine is now available, but vaccination along with following the CDC’s recommendation to protect yourself and others will offer the best protection from COVID-19 and stopping the pandemic. There are many questions regarding the vaccine and below are resources that you can share with staff, residents and families. The internet has various amounts of information regarding the vaccine; please make sure it is from a credible source.
- Video Message from Dr. Ngozi Ezike, IDPH Director Encouraging Workers to Get Vaccinated.
- IHI has developed two documents to help support conversations about vaccine hesitancy with nursing home staff: COVID-19 Vaccine Education: A Guide for Conversations with Nursing Home Team Members (includes a script outline and ideas for preparing and having conversations about vaccine hesitancy) and accompanying slides.
- COVID-19 Vaccine FAQs (IDPH)
- Mayo Clinic Answers Questions Regarding COVID-19 Vaccine (Mayo Clinic)
- V-safe is a smartphone-based tool that uses text messaging and web surveys to provide personalized health check-ins after you receive a COVID-19 vaccination and reminders of when your next dose is due. Based on your responses, the CDC may reach out to you to get more information.
Testing Resources
We continue to track resources for testing to provide to our members. We will keep you updated on legitimate information we receive. Here is a look at some of the information and resources we have gathered to date (we will keep a running list updated in the newsletter):
Brent Branneman
800.533.7052
Provides testing, packaging and results ($100 each test)
Ammon Analytical Laboratories
800.533.7052
E-Mail
Test kits shipped to site. Fedex or UPS used to send samples back to lab.
Curative Labs
Email
Offers PCR testing and antibody testing
Genesis
321.698.8621
LabCorp
Services Offered: PCR testing, Courier services
Email
Mayo Clinic Labs
800.533.1710
E-Mail
Reditus
Pekin, Illinois
Phone: 469.498.0222
Services Offered: PCR Testing and courier services available
StarLab Corp
Richard Felicelda
Strategic Lab Partners
Products and Pricing
Order Form
Does not include lab processing.
Tempus
Chicago, Illinois
Services Offered: PCR testing, Shipping is available to and from the sites
Phone: 833.514.4187
Email
Independent Affordable/Subsidized Housing:
LeadingAge Illinois HUD Member Regional Monthly Meeting
Every third Thursday from 12-1 p.m. CST, LeadingAge Illinois hosts the HUD Member Regional Meeting with important updates from LeadingAge National. The meeting is a collaboration with LeadingAge Illinois, LeadingAge Indiana, LeadingAge Minnesota and LeadingAge Missouri.
The meetings feature updates from Linda Couch, vice president of housing policy and Juliana Bilowich, director, housing operations and policy at LeadingAge National.
The meetings also feature updates from Gail Burks, Branch Chief at HUD.
To RSVP, contact Jason Speaks.
LeadingAge Housing Advisory Group Update
To provide additional ways for members to learn and share with each other, and to help inform LeadingAge’s advocacy to HUD and Congress to improve programs, five workgroups of the Housing Advisory Group have been launched for members. The workgroups are on: Resident Connectivity, Services and Service Coordinators, HUD Oversight, Meal and Dining Programs, and the IWISH Demonstration. More information on the workgroups, including how to join, can be found here.
On yesterday’s Housing Advisory Group call, LeadingAge hosted Dr. Rachael Piltch-Loeb from the Harvard School of Public Health to discuss vaccine hesitancy and messaging issues in affordable senior housing communities. Dr. Piltch-Loeb covered a variety of strategies for countering both fear-based and cultural-based hesitancy among staff and residents, and suggested tips for increasing vaccine take-up. Above all, Dr. Piltch-Loeb stressed that concerns around medical interventions, including vaccinations, are valid and should be addressed; housing providers on the call also shared successful experiences they have had at communities, including one-on-one conversations with each resident to talk through concerns ahead of a vaccine clinic. A summary of today’s call is available here. To join the LeadingAge Housing Advisory Group calls on Mondays at 11:30 a.m. CST, email Juliana Bilowich or Linda Couch at LeadingAge National.
Artmails Program
Artmails is an arts education and entertainment series designed to be shared with your residents that you can access and utilize – at no cost to LeadingAge Illinois provider members. Each week, we’ll email each installment of the Artmails series to you. The series was created and is curated by a Norwalk, Connecticut-based nonprofit executive who was concerned about the negative impact of the Covid-19 lockdown on his 91-year-old mother, a resident of a senior living community and a lifelong amateur artist.
Each Artmail profiles a different modern or contemporary artist, principally 20th and 21st century painters but also sculptors and photographers. Each episode lasts 30-40 minutes on average. The focal point is the embedded YouTube videos that display the profiled artist’s work. Each profile typically includes biographical information as well as additional opinions and commentary provided by the Artmails creator.
The series isn’t the work of a trained art historian or critic – they aren’t professionally produced; but, the series can provide value for senior citizens with an interest in art. As well as for curious minds who would like to expand their horizons and learn something new. Or, for residents who may want to shake up their day-to-day routine.
Each Artmail offers your residents the opportunity for arts education, entertainment and diversion during this challenging time. Depending upon your outlook and/or point of view, even joy and beauty. And, we can all use more of that these days! We hope you enjoy this exciting weekly program for your residents.
Visit the Artmail ARTchives page to view previous Artmail installments! The ARTchives page allows provider members to access past week’s installments by logging in. If you have trouble logging in, please send an email to LeadingAge Illinois.
N95 Fit Testing Services
N95 Fit Testing Kits are backordered from most of the medical distributors that Terry Romin, Group Purchasing Advisor for LeadingAge Illinois/Value First, has spoken with. Please continue to work with your contacts from your medical distributor for updates on when they are expecting to receive the kits for your community.
There are several N95 Fit Testing Services organizations that Terry has reached out to, that may be possible solutions for your community.
Resources:
N95 Mask Fit Testing Services Companies
CDC Strategies for Optimizing the Supply of N95 Respirators
As LeadingAge Illinois and Value First continue to serve you, please reach out to Terry for supply needs for your community. Also, visit the Value First Website or our resource page for up-to-date information for your community. Terry can be reached at 224.230.7365.
Personal Protective Equipment Update
The LeadingAge Illinois and Value First team continue to work to keep you updated on Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and items needed for the reopening phases in your communities. We encourage you to continue to work with your trusted food, medical, and janitorial distributors for your supply needs. However, we are also aware our “normal” channels may still be working to catch up with demands and realize that allocations are still in place. The following vendors have all been vetted for your use. See this letter from LeadingAge Illinois/Value First.
Additional Information:
Face Masks, Including Surgical Masks, and Respirators for COVID-19:
A comprehensive new FDA page on FDA.gov with answers to frequently asked questions about face masks, surgical masks, and respirators.
Article on storing bulk PPE:
Jensen Hughes, LeadingAge’s life safety and emergency preparedness consultants have provided this advice on storing bulk PPE in a manner that avoids creating a hazardous area. The guidance offers specifications for existing spaces that are converted into storage areas.
See also, the LeadingAge and Pathway Health PPE Toolkit.
Support the LeadingAge Illinois PAC
The LeadingAge Illinois Political Action Committee (PAC) is a bipartisan, voluntary, not-for-profit organization representing professional men and women in the field of older adult care and services. Affiliated with LeadingAge Illinois, the PAC was created to support LeadingAge Illiinois’ friends in the Illinois Legislature and also to gain access to those legislators who may not be current on issues affecting our profession.
Click here to support the PAC.
LeadingAge Coronavirus Update Calls
LeadingAge is hosting online updates that will occur Mondays and Wednesdays at 2:30 p.m. Subscribe to “LeadingAge Need to Know” via communications preferences in your MyLeadingAge account to receive email updates. Register for the online updates to add these calls to your calendar. You can find an archive of all member updates here.
On Wednesday, the call will cover new CDC materials that will be posted this week. On Thursday, February 11, Evan Shulman, Director of the Division of Nursing Homes, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, will join the call to answer questions about how CMS is approaching any changes in visitation guidance. Changes are not anticipated in the near future, Evan will explain why. He will also talk about current recommendations in this regard and answer other questions that have come up recently, as well as take caller questions.
Also, if you’re a member of both LeadingAge Illinois and LeadingAge National, stay connected with other LeadingAge National Members and share information and resources through the MyLeadingAge Member Community: COVID-19. This is a place to connect with your peers to share and discuss everyday practices related to the coronavirus virus. Take a moment now to log into your my.leadingage.org account and join the group to stay connected. LeadingAge also has a COVID-19 webpage with the latest updates, information and resources for members.
LeadingAge, Pathway Health Toolkits on Activities Reopening and PPE
LeadingAge and Pathway Health have created a toolkit to help members establish guidelines and policies for opening up to holding activities. The toolkit is grounded in infection control and staff competencies to help nursing homes prepare. Included in the toolkit are policies, checklists and a training plan.
LeadingAge and Pathway Health also collaborated to create a PPE resource. This toolkit focuses on the adequate PPE for an organization and their staff. There is a leader’s guide, competencies, checklists and training components. The toolkit also has specific resources for both leadership and management as well as all staff.