The Lead January 19, 2023

From the Desk of Angela Schnepf, President and CEO
IDPH Laboratory Supports Influenza Outbreak Investigations in Health Care Facilities
Paid Leave for All Workers Act
Impending Deadlines
HFS Proposes Amendments to SLP Rules
CAST Releases Digital Transformation in Aging Services Guide

From the Desk of Angela Schnepf, President and CEO

The 103rd Illinois General Assembly will convene for Spring Session on January 31, 2023.  From, there it will be a whirlwind of activity until the scheduled adjournment and passage of a state budget on May 19; 12 days earlier than the end of the fiscal year.  You may recall the session ended early last year as well with an April 8 adjournment in an all night debate on the budget. LeadingAge Illinois will keep you informed every step of the way on bills that impact you, our work to pass or defeat bills, and your advocacy needed.  Please be sure to respond to our member calls to action and alerts and contact your legislators on important bills we ask you to respond.  It really does make a difference.  We are proposing a number of bills to provide solutions to challenges in the field and we need your grassroots advocacy to continue as we work to reduce legislative and regulatory burdens and continue to advance quality care and services for residents in Illinois.

 

Kindest regards,

 

Angela

 

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Top Stories:

IDPH Laboratory Supports Influenza Outbreak Investigations in Health Care Facilities

Facilities experiencing influenza outbreaks, after primary diagnostic testing of symptomatic patients is performed by a laboratory provider*, should contact their local health department (LHD) to determine whether further testing at a state laboratory is warranted.  If approved, an outbreak investigation number will be issued and IDPH laboratories will test a subset of symptomatic patients to determine the pathogen driving transmission. Testing will include Influenza/SARS-CoV-2, a multiplex RT-PCR assay to differentiate influenza A, influenza B, and SARS-CoV-2. Additional testing may include influenza subtyping and/or a respiratory pathogen panel to screen for a more-comprehensive array of upper respiratory pathogens. Note that influenza subtyping is for surveillance purposes only and individual results will not be shared with providers.

Instructions for specimen submission are included on the IDPH web portal.  The specimen MUST be collected using a nasopharyngeal swab in viral transport media.  Submissions should be transmitted by selecting the INF/COVID-19 test in the Electronic Test Ordering and Reporting (ETOR) portal.   If ETOR becomes temporarily unavailable, a revised submission form, revision date 7/8/22, can be found here. Resume use of ETOR as soon as functionality is restored.  The IDPH laboratories are unable to routinely accept paper submission forms.   If you are not registered in the ETOR patient portal, you can do so by emailing dph.labs.dmg@illinois.gov. Refer to the Manual of Services found here for more detailed instructions on how to submit influenza/COVID-19 specimens.

For questions regarding this test implementation and the approved uses, contact the IDPH molecular sections at your respective IDPH Laboratory:

Carbondale IDPH Laboratory – 618.457.5131

Chicago IDPH Laboratory – 312.793.4760

Springfield IDPH Laboratory – 217.782.6562

 

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Paid Leave for All Workers Act

SB208, which passed in the Lame Duck Session this month, creates the Paid Leave for All Workers Act. The Illinois Department of Labor will regulate this new law which covers all employees, including domestic workers. Under the Act, employees are entitled to earn and use up to a minimum of 40 hours of paid leave during a 12-month period or a pro rata number of hours of paid leave. Paid leave may be used by the employee for any purpose. An employee is not required to provide an employer a reason for the leave and may not be required to provide documentation or certification as proof or in support of the leave.  Paid leave shall accrue at the rate of one hour of paid leave for every 40 hours worked up to a minimum of 40 hours of paid leave or such greater amount if the employer provides more than 40 hours.

 

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Impending Deadlines

Each week, we will keep you abreast of important deadlines.

  • January 31, 2023: This is reportedly when the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) will issue violation notices.
  • January 31, 2023: HUD is currently accepting reimbursement requests from housing providers for COVID expenses completed or committed by January 31, 2023. LeadingAge has complied FAQs with HUD’s latest answers to our questions on CSPs; LeadingAge will also host an additional “Office Hours” session on January 19 at 2pm ET. Members can register herefor the CSP Office Hours

 

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Supportive Living:

HFS Proposes Amendments to SLP Rules

The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) has proposed rules changes for the Supportive Living Program (SLP), some of which are Department proposed changes and others to comply with federal HCBS regulations.

Some of these proposed changes include:

  • In the definition of Determination of Need (DON), deletes the DON score.
  • Requires providers to notify the Department on structural/construction changes at the SLP.
  • Food shall be stored, prepared and cooked on-site in a full service kitchen.
  • SLP can apply ointments and patches as personal care.
  • The SLP setting shall respond to the emergency call system requests within a reasonable amount of time. Responses in excess of 15 minutes shall be considered untimely.
  • CNA must be CPR Certified as a condition of employment.
  • Training that covers communicable diseases and infection control. This training shall include, but is not limited to, source control, hand hygiene and isolation procedures when necessary. This training shall occur for all staff initially at staff orientation for new staff and at least one (1) time within every 366 days of the previous training thereafter.
  • When a resident discharges from the SLP, the resident shall no longer be liable for any new charges to the SLP. This shall be effective the date the resident’s belongings have been removed from the resident’s apartment.
  • In order to abate the immediate jeopardy, the SLP provider must provide documentation to the Department the same day of the written notice of the issuance of the immediate jeopardy. This documentation shall identify action(s) taken to alleviate the current risk to health and safety of the residents. The abatement plan must be approved by the Department.
  • The SLP shall notify the resident’s Managed Care plan, if enrolled, no later than the end of the next business day, when the resident is injured or expires as a result of an incident.

If you have any questions or comments, please contact Jason Speaks, director of government relations.

 

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Technology:

CAST Releases Digital Transformation in Aging Services Guide

This new white paper presents the benefits of digital transformation and the technology and engagement you need to succeed.

 

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