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News related to "covid-19"
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Dining and Activity Visitor Attendance
On June 1, 2023 by Kari Everson
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) recently clarified with LeadingAge Minnesota when families and visitors can share a meal with a resident in the dining room or attend activities. According to MDH, organizations should continue infection prevention and control practices and complete a facility risk assessment to determine visitor attendance in congregate dining settings and activities.
New Resource Available! COVID-19 Facility Assessment Policy Template
On June 1, 2023 by Kari Everson
LeadingAge Minnesota has added a COVID-19 facility assessment policy template to the resource library as a companion document to the facility assessment workbook provided last week.
Post-Survey Feedback Opportunity
On June 1, 2023 by Kari Everson
Beginning June 5, onsite surveys and investigations will include an electronic provider feedback form to help provide information for the Minnesota Department of Health’s (MDH) continuous improvement.
CMS To Discontinue Vaccine Mandate
On June 1, 2023 by Kari Everson
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will discontinue the nursing home staff vaccination mandate in early August.
Facility Assessment and Broader Use of Source Control Post Public Health Emergency
On May 18, 2023 by Kari Everson
New information released over the last week directs each nursing home and assisted living in conducting a COVID-19 facility assessment to determine whether a broader source control practice is needed. LeadingAge Minnesota has created a sample COVID-19 facility assessment to aid in implementing the new practices.
Permanent Remote Adult Day Services Option Available July 1
On May 11, 2023 by Bobbie Guidry
Remote adult day services will be a permanent option for licensed adult day services providers beginning July 1.
CDC Published Updated COVID-19 Guidance
On May 8, 2023 by Kari Everson
Updated from original content posted on Monday, May 8
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Healthcare Personnel During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic. The CDC updated sections on recommendations for universal source control and admission testing and added an appendix section to help organizations determine when to implement broader use of source control. In response to the CDC guidance release, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released an update to QSO 20-39-NH REVISED, essentially adopting the CDC guidance.
CDC Updates mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine Guidelines
On April 27, 2023 by Kari Everson
On April 23, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released updated guidance for mRNA COVID-19 vaccination. Going forward, bivalent vaccines will be administered for all immunization doses, and the monovalent (original) vaccine is no longer available. This updated guidance does not include Novovax or Johnson and Johnson Janssen. These continue to be monovalent vaccines, and the schedule remains the same.
CDC COVID-19 Vaccine Changes
On April 20, 2023 by Kari Everson
On April 19, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released simplified vaccine recommendations. The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) met yesterday to discuss updated COVID-19 vaccine changes after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) amended emergency use authorizations (EUA) for Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech products earlier this week.
Waiver and Medical Assistance Financial Eligibility Renewals at the End of PHE Continuous Coverage Period
On April 13, 2023 by Bobbie Guidry
On April 7, the Minnesota Department of Human Services released Bulletin #23-21-08: DHS Announces Key MHCP Eligibility Policies during the Unwinding Period (PDF), which announces timelines for restarting Medical Assistance renewals after Public Health Emergency continuous coverage requirements end. These timelines also apply to reassessments for waiver and AC programs, including financial eligibility redeterminations for the AC program.
QSO Updates Enforcement for Infection Control Citations
On April 6, 2023 by Kari Everson
On March 30, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released QSO-23-10-NH, which rescinds QSO-20-31-NH and provides updated guidance on enforcement for infection control non-compliance. As a result, enforcement actions are more severe than before when cited under F880 and/or F887.
Mask Use in Long-Term Care Settings
On April 6, 2023 by Kari Everson
Many hospitals decided to discontinue mask use creating confusion regarding the use of masks in nursing homes and assisted living organizations. The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) clarified mask use during the Long-term Care COVID-19 Call yesterday.
Providers of Remote Adult Day Services Under COVID-19 Waivers Provided Time for Transition
On April 6, 2023 by Bobbie Guidry
When Adult Day Service (ADS) sites were closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, adult day service providers responded to the needs of their clients by developing a “remote” service. The services were permitted under a COVID-19 waiver, which will expire shortly after the end of the Public Health Emergency (PHE).
Temporary Nurse Aide Training Program Extended Again in Minnesota
On March 23, 2023 by Anna Mowry
Nurse aides hired or who worked under the 1135 waiver now have until Sept. 11 to be on the Minnesota Nursing Assistant Registry.
Employee Retention Credit Will Not Impact Care Center Rates
On March 16, 2023 by Jeff Bostic
Earlier this week, Senator Amy Klobuchar’s office informed LeadingAge that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will tell states with cost-based care center payment systems like Minnesota’s to treat Employee Retention Credit (ERC) funds like other federal CARES Act relief funds.
PHE Ending – What it means for Nursing Homes
On February 23, 2023 by Mark Schulz
Yesterday, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) held its routine National Nursing Home Stakeholder Call. During this call, CMS staff reiterated several vital facts about the end of the Public Health Emergency (PHE).
VRBPAC to Review Covid Vaccine Proposals This Week
On January 26, 2023 by Kari Everson
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tasked its Vaccine and other Related Biologicals Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) to review proposals related to COVID-19 vaccines. Items scheduled for review include changing the primary vaccine doses to the bivalent vaccine and whether the composition and schedule for booster doses should be adjusted.
Public Health Emergency Extended
On January 12, 2023 by Mark Schulz
The Public Health Emergency (PHE), first declared in Jan. 2020 and extended continually for 90-day periods since then, has been extended for another 90 days until April 11.
Assisted Living and Nursing Home Infection Reporting
On December 22, 2022 by Libbie Chapuran
COVID-19/Flu Tests Coming Soon to SNFs Throughout the State
On December 22, 2022 by Kari Everson
The Minnesota Department of Health is mailing a combination of COVID-19/Flu A&B rapid test kits to all skilled nursing facilities in the state. Kits should be arriving in the next 2-3 weeks.