The Lead September 3, 2020 - LeadingAge Illinois

CCRC/Life Plan Communities:
Member Spotlight: Oak Trace, a Lifespace Community

Supportive Living:
HFS Supportive Living Program Staff Changes
2020 Cost Report Forms and Instructions for Supportive Living Program (SLP) Providers

Independent Affordable / Subsidized Housing:
HUD Announces Service Coordinator COVID-19 payments
LeadingAge Illinois HUD Member Regional Conference Calls

Home Health and Hospice:
Introduction to the Home Health Quality Reporting Program Web-Based Training

Home and Community-Based Services:
Illinois Home Care Services Virtual Bootcamp

Technology:
Collaborative Care HIT Summit

Other:
HFS Proposes Rule Implementing Health Benefits for Immigrant Seniors Program
Personal Protective Equipment Update
N95 Fit Testing Services
PPE – Gloves Update

Top Stories:

Contact Your Legislators – Release CARES Act Relief Funds to Nursing Homes and Supportive Living
As you know, the federal CARES Act that passed in March provided needed relief funds for long term care to help offset the COVID-19 response (PPE, staffing, testing, etc.). As of today, over five months later, Illinois nursing homes and supportive living communities still have not been allocated their share of the $435 million in funding.

Although we have continually been pressing the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) on this funding in our twice per week meetings with the Department leadership, we need your advocacy as well.

We need you, your staff, and your board members to contact your state representative and senator and tell them to urge the Governor to allocate these imperative funds. While you have them or their staff, whether through phone or e-mail, tell them your story and the needs of your community to show why these funds are desperately needed.

If you do not know who your legislators are, click here to find out.

Contact Kirk Riva, Vice President of Public Policy, for any questions.

HHS Announces Private Pay Relief Funding
On Tuesday evening, HHS formally announced a private pay distribution from the CARES Act provider relief funds for licensed assisted living providers. LeadingAge has a full article on the announcement with more details. As anticipated based on recent discussions, the distribution model mirrors that of the Medicaid distribution previously announced and will total two percent of annual gross revenue for private pay providers that submit an application and are validated by HHS. Private pay providers can submit an application by visiting the HHS relief fund webpage and the deadline for applications is September 13. LeadingAge is hoping to have conversations with HHS regarding a deadline extension.

LeadingAge has been told by HHS that private pay nursing homes can also apply through this same process. HHS staff indicate this should work. If you are a private pay nursing home that applies and is told that your Tax Identification Number is not valid, please contact Nicole Fallon at LeadingAge with this information so advocacy work can be done with HHS.

HFS also released a provider notice noting the deadline to apply for Phase 2 General Distribution Funding has been extended to September 13, 2020.

Provider Relief Fund Payments Update
Last Thursday, HHS posted the terms and conditions for the $2.5 billion in Provider Relief Fund payments that began arriving in Medicare and Medicaid certified SNF bank accounts last Friday. The use of these funds will be limited to “infection control expenses”, which are outlined in more detail in a LeadingAge article you can access here.

This is the initial payment from the $5 billion distribution to nursing homes announced in late July. HHS issued its announcement on the funds which also highlighted two voluntary training resources being made available to nursing homes in their fight against COVID-19.

The formula is that each nursing home with six beds or more received $10,000 base amount plus $1,450 for each bed. There is no indication that providers are required to participate in either of the two training programs it has made available and references in the announcement. However, providers who choose to participate in The AHRQ National Nursing Home COVID Action Network which is based on the Project ECHO pilot will be eligible for some compensation to cover staff training time.

It remains unclear whether providers’ use of the funds will be limited “to support facilities’ COVID-19 infection control efforts, including conducting appropriate testing, acquiring necessary personal protective equipment (PPE), investing in staff and establishing COVID-19 isolation facilities” as noted in a communication that went directly to providers. Also, there was no new information on the timing or details surrounding the $2 billion performance incentive payments except that more to come later this fall.

We continue to seek the latest information on these payments and will report any new developments as warranted.

ICARE Immunization Program Update
The Illinois Comprehensive Automated Immunization Registry Exchange (ICARE) program is the State’s immunization registry system within the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). This program, as we reported last week in the newsletter, will be utilized during the COVID-19 mass vaccination administration mission to order and track the vaccine, when it is available.

IDPH told us recently that if assisted living communities do not have the capacity to store and administer the vaccine they cannot be a direct provider. Those communities do not have to register with ICARE as the Department is developing alternative plans for this group. IDPH would like to remind assisted living communities to continue to work with their local health departments as they have throughout the public health emergency as more information on the vaccine planning becomes available.

LeadingAge Presents Public Testimony to COVID-19 Vaccine Panel
Brendan Flinn from LeadingAge presented testimony to the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine Panel on the Discussion Draft of the Preliminary Framework for Equitable Allocation of COVID-19 Vaccine, which was released this week. LeadingAge was very positive about the draft plan, particularly its focus on high risk workers in health care and older people in a range of aging services settings across the continuum. Brendan highlighted the importance of also including affordable senior housing and independent living.

IDPH September COVID-19 Webinars
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is hosting webinars to provide COVID-19 updates and answer questions from long-term care and congregate residential settings.

Recording of August 28 Webinar

Webinar attendance is limited. If you cannot register or get in, email Michael Moore.

IDPH will be recording the webinars and sending out the links of the recordings.

CLA Tool Helps Track COVID-19 Economic Relief Expenses
CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen LLP) has an innovative tracking tool to help health care organizations record COVID-19 economic relief spending. Now, organizations can arrange spending in accordance with the compliance and reporting initiatives.

Testing Update
We have a number of updates today related to testing.

CMS Rules and Guidance on Nursing Home Testing Explained:
LeadingAge has a full explanation of the CMS guidance on nursing home testing that came out August 26. Consistent with previous recommendations from CMS and the CDC, nursing homes will now be required to test all residents and staff in response to an outbreak, with routine surveillance testing also required for all staff, volunteers, and individuals providing services under arrangement with the nursing home. LeadingAge Illinois and the associations have requested a discussion with the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) on the CMS guidance and rule and how it impacts state guidance currently in place.

HHS Allocation of Abbott Rapid Result Tests:
Reporting says that Admiral Brett Giroir, White House testing coordinator and HHS assistant secretary for health, announced plans recently to allocate the majority of the 150 million rapid result Abbott antigen tests the department had acquired. Distribution will begin this month focused on reopening schools and protecting first responders. However, the plan also apparently names assisted living communities, senior centers, home health staff, and nursing homes for at-risk individuals.

Several LeadingAge policy staff met with Rachel Kellogg, deputy chief of staff to assistant secretary for health Brett Giroir, recently to discuss questions on antigen testing and the BD and Quidel machines. Some key information learned included:

Providers that have not received an antigen testing machine (or an adequate supply of test kits) by the time the CMS interim final rule is published and takes effect should be documenting and informing local and state health officials.
Test kits are specific to the BD and Quidel machines. BD test kits cannot be used on the Quidel machine and vice versa.
Though BD machines are less accurate than Quidel’s, BD is a larger company with more production capacity, so more of these are being distributed.
Both companies have set up dedicated websites to respond to nursing home requests for test kits. See BD website and Quidel website for info.
If machines arrive broken or damaged or with a clearly erroneous number of test kits, providers can contact the companies directly.
HHS will soon issue its allocation plan for the 150 million rapid result Abbott tests. If nursing homes have these tests, they may use them in lieu of or in combination with the antigen machines and PCR tests. Recall, the interim final rule requires testing but it does not explicitly require use of the antigen machine.

PCR Testing Decision Tool:
There is a tool from the CDC to help providers/practitioners decide when to follow up antigen testing with a confirmatory PCR test. It is a great resource that really helps to clear things up. Check it out here. LeadingAge has also updated their Antigen Testing A to Z tool to include the CDC tool. The document will be updated as changes occur. HHS Point-of-Care Testing Device Initiative HHS announced in July that they would be sending point-of-care antigen testing devices and tests to all eligible nursing homes in the country. To be eligible, the nursing home must be CMS certified and must hold a CLIA certificate or certificate of waiver. Information on how to apply for a CLIA certificate of waiver can be found here.

HHS Issues Limited Liability Protection Related to Antigen Testing in Nursing Homes:
According to HHS guidance, they have extended coverage under the PREP Act to licensed health-care practitioners prescribing or administering point-of-care COVID-19 tests, using anterior nares specimen collection or self-collection, for screening in congregate facilities across the Nation. Such tests must be authorized, approved, or cleared by the FDA (collectively, FDA-authorized COVID-19 tests).

PREP Act coverage encompasses licensed health-care practitioners prescribing or administering FDA- authorized COVID-19 tests, including for off-label (outside the authorization) use to screen asymptomatic individuals in congregate facilities. PREP Act coverage preempts any State or local provision of law or legal requirement that prohibits or effectively prohibits such licensed health-care practitioners from administering or prescribing FDA- authorized COVID-19 tests to symptomatic or asymptomatic individuals at congregate facilities.

According to an article in Politico, the goal of the federal policy change is to alleviate fears for nursing homes in the handful of states that had restricted the use of tests in the facilities, according to an HHS spokesperson. Some nursing homes have had antigen tests in hand, but have held back using them over liability concerns. “Today’s action will expand the use of rapid point-of-care antigen tests to slow the spread of COVID-19 and continue safely reopening America,” said HHS testing czar Brett Giroir.

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):

Acutis Diagnostics Inc.”
Paul Jaskowiak
Sales Specialist
219.508.6206 (Cell)
844.522.8847 (Support)
631.532.1680 (Fax)
Provides testing, supplies and results

Aegis Sciences Corporation
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

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

CCRC/Life Plan Communities:

Member Spotlight: Oak Trace, a Lifespace Community
The industry is ever evolving, and so is Oak Trace, a Lifespace Community in Downers Grove. In fact, they are in the midst of a large expansion that includes new independent living residences and a brand-new health and wellness center.

Lifespace Communities was founded in 1976 and currently serves 5,100 older adults with 3,900 team members. Lifespace is primarily made up of CCRCs, but also offers home care services. They have 15 communities in eight states. Oak Trace is one of two Lifespace communities in Illinois. The other being Beacon Hill in Lombard.

The Downers Grove community is led by Blaire Goldstein, executive director, who has been in the industry for over 23 years, the last three at Oak Trace. She came to Oak Trace from Beacon Hill, were she served in the same role. She is a leader in the association and serves as a LeadingAge Illinois Board member and the current Treasurer.

It is an industry, she is happy she chose. “I enjoy working with the residents and being able to provide quality services and care to them,” said Goldstein. “I am also very grateful and enjoy working with the exceptional people who choose the field of aging services. I am privileged to work with and learn from each of them on a daily basis.” She has found pride in seeing those she has worked with achieve success and take the next steps in their career development or have been recognized locally or nationally for their work.

Goldstein acknowledges the challenges and changes the coronavirus pandemic has brought to the industry. “There is no doubt that COVID has changed the industry this year. Yet, the industry has been ever changing in my 23 years,” said Goldstein. “The workforce expectations have challenged us as leaders to move away from conventional thinking and be more creative and thoughtful in how we look at staffing models, benefits, reward and recognition, and providing care and services.”

Goldstein aims to continue to maintain Oak Trace as a great place to work and live by being thoughtful and innovative in their service and care delivery models while being good stewards of their resources. “We need to move beyond the fear of change and be bold in how we approach the care and service needs of our residents and attract the most talented team members to be a part of that transformation,” said Goldstein.

Supportive Living:

HFS Supportive Living Program Staff Changes
A “new” addition to the Supportive Living Program staff at the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) is no stranger to the program or providers. Kara Helton, who had moved on to another state agency over the summer, has returned to the Department and program.

Her new e-mail address is yet to be completed, but you can reach her at 217.782.1868. She can receive e-mails at this time on Janene Brickey’s e-mail address. Make sure you include Kara Helton in the subject line of the e-mail.

Also, Sara Reardon has accepted another position within the Department and will be moving later this month. You will now contact Kara for information such as incident reports, discharge notices, and questions regarding MCO service planning. Kara also informed LeadingAge Illinois that they will be scheduling webinars on reopening for supportive living communities on September 9 and 10. Details are forthcoming.

2020 Cost Report Forms and Instructions for Supportive Living Program (SLP) Providers
The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) has posted the 2020 Cost Report forms and instructions for Supportive Living Program (SLP) providers. Due to the COVID-19 Health Emergency, when Federal CMS delays the Long Term Care Medicare cost report due date, the Department will also delay the SLP Medicaid cost report due date for the corresponding SLP provider year ends for the same amount of time. A more detailed explanation is provided on page 2 of the instructions.

Independent Affordable/Subsidized Housing:

HUD Announces Service Coordinator COVID-19 Payments
HUD announced that CARES Act awards for grant-funded Service Coordinators are now available. Applications are due to HUD by September 11. The supplemental payments will be approximately 9% of operating budgets. LeadingAge will host a call with HUD staff next week to answer member questions. More information about the call, and detailed instructions to apply for the payments, is available here.

LeadingAge Illinois HUD Member Regional Conference Calls
The monthly calls take place every third Thursday each month and include members and staff from Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota and Missouri. The calls feature important updates from Linda Couch, vice president of housing policy and Juliana Bilowich, director, housing operations and policy at LeadingAge, Washington, D.C. To RSVP, contact Jason Speaks.

Home Health and Hospice:

Introduction to the Home Health Quality Reporting Program Web-Based Training
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is offering a web-based training course for those who are new to the Home Health (HH) Quality Reporting Program (QRP). This course is designed to provide a general overview of the program as well as a variety of links and resources for additional information. Specific topics include:

Lesson 1: What is the Home Health Quality Reporting Program (HH QRP)?
Lesson 2: The Outcome and Assessment Information Set (OASIS)
Lesson 3: OASIS Data Submission
Lesson 4: HH QRP Resources

Click here to access the training.

If you have technical questions or feedback regarding the training, please email the PAC Training mailbox. Content-related questions should be submitted to the HH Quality Reporting Program Help Desk.

Home and Community-Based Services:

Illinois Home Care Services Virtual Bootcamp
LeadingAge Illinois, in partnership with Hinshaw & Culbertson, LLP, is pleased to announce a virtual workshop for Illinois Home Care Services owners, operators, directors, and managers: the Illinois Home Care Services Virtual Bootcamp. You can connect from anywhere to this virtual event.

The curriculum has been designed to give new and not-so-new Home Care Services operators and managers a deep dive into the Illinois’ Home Care Licensure program. Register here.

When:
Wednesday, September 16
10:30 am – 3:00 pm

Faculty:

Hinshaw & Culbertson, LLP
U.S. Department of Labor
LeadingAge Illinois
Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH)

Bootcamp Benefits:

Earn up to 3.0 CEs
Direct access to attorneys and DOL staff to have your questions answered
Take part in a Q&A session with LAIL during lunch

Click here for the Boot Camp Brochure

“The Bootcamp is an event every home care agency manager or owner should attend. Extremely valuable. Best speakers of all events I attended this year!”

-Jenna Myrczik, Home Care Services Program Manager, My Solutions

Technology:

Collaborative Care HIT Summit
Are you struggling with providing your residents with safe access to physicians and other healthcare services due to COVID-19? Have you considered Telehealth, but don’t know how to start? Then you don’t want to miss the Collaborative Care HIT Summit, especially the Telehealth Panel presenting Case Studies from the your Peers in the Trenches!

Time is running out! With less than 2 weeks before the Summit begins on September 15, don’t miss the chance to receive a $50 discount on your registration by using the discount code TSAP2020!

Register today for the virtual Summit to learn how COVID-19 and tech solutions are transform aging services and collaborative care now and into the future.

Other:

HFS Proposes Rule Implementing Health Benefits for Immigrant Seniors Program
The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) proposed rules regarding Special Eligibility Groups implementing the Health Benefits for Immigrant Seniors program established by PA 101-636. Nursing home services would not be covered in the program.

The program implemented in this rulemaking provides State-funded medical assistance benefits to Illinois resident, non-U.S. citizens age 65 or older whose income is at or below 100% of the Federal Poverty Level (either before or after deducting the costs of medical and remedial care), have not lawfully resided in the U.S. for 5 years or more, and who do not qualify for federally funded medical assistance (Medicaid or Medicare).

Services normally provided to adult assistance enrollees under the Illinois Public Aid Code are covered under this program, except for nursing home services, services in developmental disability or mental health facilities, and funeral or burial expenses. The program is subject to available funding and enrollment may be limited or terminated at any time if necessary to maintain the cost of the program within its available funding.

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.

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 this past few days. 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

National Fit Testing Services

Mobile Health Proposal

Mobile Health Proposal #2

Mobile Health Brochure

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.

PPE – Gloves Update
As many of you know, gloves are becoming harder to find for your staff and community. Always check with your current distribution sources – including your medical and janitorial supply houses for their available PPE stock. In addition, Value First has a identified a couple of newer sources that have some Nitrile Exam gloves or are taking orders for when stock is replenished. As of today, Vinyl gloves are available but the forecast is that these also will become harder to find as we move into the fall.

Platinum Code is a Value First partner vendor, you will need your Vizient ID to place an order. Please reach out to me for your Vizient ID if needed. Another vendor, JGD (contact Terry for order form), has been a great – NON-Value First resource for our members. If you order with them, please make sure to put LEADINGAGE-Illinois in the subject line for priority service.

Your Support Needed for the LeadingAge Illinois PAC
It is imperative that we participate in the political process and ensure LeadingAge Illinois always has a seat at the table when legislative decisions that impact providers and the residents they serve are being negotiated. One way to ensure that access is through your support of the LeadingAge Illinois PAC. Your support is greatly appreciated.