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Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash

On May 29, 2020, Pennsylvania’s State Legislature appropriated $175 million dollars from the federal CARES Act to protect residents and staff in long-term care facilities (LTCFs). With this funding, and in partnership with select health systems, Pennsylvania’s Long-Term Care Task Force (LTC-TF) developed the Regional Response Health Collaborative (RRHC) program. Federal funding for the RRHC program ended on December 30, 2020.

Due to federal dollars no longer being available and a constrained state budget, the Wolf Administration has prioritized the allocation of limited funds to continue providing facilities with support during COVID-19 facility outbreaks. This state-funded effort will leverage the expertise of the health systems through the Regional Congregate Care Assistance Teams (RCAT), a new, more limited version of the RRHC. Starting on December 31, 2020 and lasting through February 28, 2021, the RCAT will provide COVID-19 outbreak support to facilities. Those facilities who were eligible for the RRHC program will also be eligible for the RCAT.

  • Continued supports that will be offered to the RCAT-eligible facilities are:
    • Call centers currently utilized under the RRHC program will remain available to engage health systems for infection control/prevention services and education in the event of COVID-19 outbreaks. (Facilities located in Carbon, Pike, Monroe, Lehigh, and Northampton Counties, please refer to the chart below for updated call center information).
    • Personal protective equipment (PPE) will be provided by existing and new vendors. Refer to the chart below to request assistance.
    • Staffing assistance will continue to be provided by existing and new contracted agencies as well as the PA National Guard, but it will be more limited.
    • Testing assistance is available as resources permit through the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s (DOH’s) vendors. Facilities experiencing a current outbreak or support from a RRHC or DOH vendor will be enrolled in testing support first, and then the program will expand based on the availability of resources.
    • Tomorrow’s Healthcare portal will still be accessible; webinars will be scheduled as needed.

With the introduction of the RCAT, coverage remains the same as the RRHC program except for the Northeast Region. Engagement with LECOM, UPMC (including Allegheny Health Network, Excela, Penn Highlands, and St. Clair), Penn State, University of Pennsylvania (including Temple), and Thomas Jefferson (including Main Line Health) will remain the same. Geisinger will continue to provide coverage for the Northcentral region and has expanded to support Carbon, Monroe, and Pike Counties as well. The LTC-TF will backstop RCAT support across the commonwealth and ensure support for facilities located in Lehigh and Northampton Counties.

Some services provided by the health systems have changed. Members are encouraged to refer to the updated contact list.

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Photo by Daniel Schludi on Unsplash

126 Skilled Nursing Facilities to Receive Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 30, 2020

Harrisburg, PA – Today, Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine announced that the federal Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care Program has begun vaccinating residents and staff at 126 Pennsylvania skilled nursing facilities using the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.

“Vaccinating residents and staff at skilled nursing facilities is critical to protecting these vulnerable populations,” Dr. Levine said. “As our federal partners work to coordinate vaccinations for this critical population, we remind Pennsylvanians to remain calm and patient as we continue to roll out our phased distribution.”

Starting on Monday, December 28, CVS Pharmacy has been working to vaccinate residents and staff in 120 skilled nursing facilities; Walgreens has also been holding vaccine clinics at six skilled nursing facilities. Developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the program provides end-to-end management of the COVID-19 vaccination process at no cost to the facilities. The distribution timeline of facilities was selected by CVS Pharmacy, Walgreens, and Operation Warp Speed.

In the first weeks, the partnership will vaccinate skilled nursing facilities’ staff and residents. In Pennsylvania, these facilities are licensed by the Department of Health. All licensed skilled nursing facilities in Pennsylvania are eligible for the program. Of the eligible facilities, 603 have chosen the federal pharmacy partnership to complete vaccination, and 89 have opted out of the federal pharmacy partnership. The department will be working with those who have opted out to complete vaccinations. Pennsylvania submitted to the CDC a list of additional facility types for the CDC’s review and approval to participate in the federal partnership, including personal care homes, assisted living facilities, private intermediate care facilities for individuals with developmental disabilities, community group homes, residential treatment facilities for adults, long-term structured residences, state veterans homes, state centers, private psychiatric hospitals, and continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs). If the CDC approves these facility types, they will receive vaccination through the partnership after skilled nursing facilities.

The Philadelphia Department of Public Health is receiving its own allocations of vaccine from the federal government and is operating separately from the efforts of the department.

As of December 29, hospitals have vaccinated 96,045 health-care workers and will continue to vaccinate those in Group 1A. This week, 56 hospitals either have or will receive 47,775 Pfizer-BioNTech and 26,100 Moderna COVID-19 vaccine doses. They will be shipped directly to hospitals and health-care systems for continued vaccination of hospital staff and non-affiliated individuals through coordinated hospital partnerships.

Pennsylvania hospitals began receiving shipments of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine the week of December 14 and shipments of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine the week of December 21.

A spreadsheet of facilities that have received the vaccine can be found here.

The Wolf Administration stresses the role Pennsylvanians play in helping to reduce the spread of COVID-19:

  • Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
  • Cover any coughs or sneezes with your elbow, not your hands.
  • Clean surfaces frequently.
  • Stay home to avoid spreading COVID-19, especially if you are unwell.
  • If you must go out, you are required to wear a mask when in a business or where it is difficult to maintain proper social distancing.
  • Download the COVID Alert PA app and make your phone part of the fight. The free app can be found in the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store by searching for “covid alert pa”.

Updated Coronavirus Links: Press Releases, State Lab Photos, and Graphics

All Pennsylvania residents are encouraged to sign up for AlertPA, a text notification system for health, weather, and other important alerts like COVID-19 updates from commonwealth agencies. Residents can sign up online.

MEDIA CONTACT:  April Hutcheson

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In December 2020, the federal government appropriated more than $16.7 million in funding to be used for projects like Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) in fiscal year (FY) 2021. Grant applications are now available and are due on February 5, 2021!

The Mental Health Awareness Training (MHAT) grants will help expand MHFA to more schools, first responders, veterans, and other communities so that more people will be able to identify, understand, and respond when someone is experiencing a mental health crisis.

To apply, you must complete all four registration processes by February 5:

  1. Obtain a DUNS number by accessing the Dun and Bradstreet website
  2. Register with the System for Awards Management
  3. Register with Grants.gov
  4. Register with National Institutes of Health’s (NIH’s) eRA Commons (Please note that the eRA Commons process may take up to six weeks. If you have not already done so, be sure to complete the registration process immediately.)

Register for our Webinar!

Join us on Friday, January 8, 2021 from 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm Eastern Time (ET) for an informational webinar that will discuss:

  • An overview of Mental Health First Aid;
  • Using Mental Health First Aid in your funding opportunity application;
  • Mental Health First Aid training implementation options; and
  • Other curricula formats available for adults who work with youth, teens, first responders, older adults, higher education, veterans, and Spanish-speaking communities.

Learn more about the grants and who can apply here:

Please direct any questions related to Mental Health First Aid to the National Council.

Please direct any other questions related to the funding opportunity announcement to SAMHSA as instructed here.

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Harrisburg, PA – Today, Department of Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine announced the launch of Pennsylvania’s COVID-19 Vaccine Dashboard, which is now available on the department’s website. The dashboard includes information on the number of vaccinations administered by county as well as demographic information about the people being vaccinated.

“Each day, more and more Pennsylvanians are getting vaccinated against COVID-19, which means we are another step closer to beating this virus,” Dr. Levine said. “The COVID-19 Vaccine Dashboard will help us visualize how many individuals have received the vaccine to date and help us work to vaccinate everyone who wishes to receive a vaccination.”

The data on the dashboard comes from vaccine providers who are reporting information relating to the individuals to whom they administer the COVID-19 vaccine. That information is reported into the Pennsylvania Statewide Immunization Information System (PA-SIIS).

Currently, 142 hospitals, health systems, federally qualified health centers, and pharmacies have received the COVID-19 vaccine with 58 locations expected to receive doses this week. Some of these facilities have previously received the vaccine, and some are receiving the vaccine for the first time. The department also announced this week that, through the Federal Pharmacy Partnership (FPP), 126 skilled nursing facilities across the commonwealth will receive the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.

The vaccine will be available in a phased approach. Due to the limited supply of vaccine, the first phase is expected to take several months. Initial administration of doses will align with the recommendations of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). ACIP recommended that vaccine administration be prioritized for health-care workers, residents, and staff in long-term care facilities.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has a nationwide playbook that the department used to develop and still uses to update the Pennsylvania COVID-19 Interim Vaccination Plan.

More information about the COVID-19 vaccine can be found here.

The Wolf Administration stresses the role Pennsylvanians play in helping to reduce the spread of COVID-19:

  • Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
  • Cover any coughs or sneezes with your elbow, not your hands.
  • Clean surfaces frequently.
  • Stay home to avoid spreading COVID-19, especially if you are unwell.
  • If you must go out, you are required to wear a mask when in a business or where it is difficult to maintain proper social distancing.
  • Download the COVID Alert PA app and make your phone part of the fight. The free app can be found in the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store by searching for “covid alert pa”.

Updated Coronavirus Links: Press Releases, State Lab Photos, and Graphics

All Pennsylvania residents are encouraged to sign up for AlertPA, a text notification system for health, weather, and other important alerts like COVID-19 updates from commonwealth agencies. Residents can sign up online.

MEDIA CONTACT: April Hutcheson

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Photo by Dimitri Houtteman on Unsplash

Today, Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine signed an order directing that a percentage of all vaccine distributions to hospitals, health systems, federally qualified health centers (FQHCs), and pharmacies be designated for health-care personnel within Phase 1A, including those health-care personnel working in emergency medical services that are not affiliated with a hospital or health system. This order will go into effect on January 6, 2021.

“Getting Pennsylvanians immunized with a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine is an essential step in reducing the number of virus-related cases, hospitalizations, and deaths, including all those who continue to take care of us,” Dr. Levine said. “There are nearly one million health-care personnel across the commonwealth who work directly or indirectly with patients and are eligible for vaccine initially. The department will continue to follow and update our COVID-19 interim vaccination plan to address how and when all Pennsylvanians can receive their vaccine.”

Health-care personnel are defined by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices as paid and unpaid persons serving in health-care settings who have the potential for direct or indirect exposure to patients or infectious materials.

This may include – but is not limited to – emergency medical service personnel, nurses, nursing assistants, physicians, technicians, therapists, phlebotomists, pharmacists, students and trainees, direct support professionals, clinical personnel in school settings or correctional facilities, contractual staff not employed by the health-care facility, and persons (e.g., clerical, dietary, environmental services, laundry, security, maintenance, engineering and facilities management, administrative, billing, and volunteer personnel) not directly involved in patient care but potentially exposed to infectious agents that can be transmitted from health-care personnel and patients.

Providers can find more information in this Overview for Unaffiliated Health-Care Personnel.

Interested health-care personnel not affiliated with a hospital or health system should take the following steps to ensure that they can receive the vaccine:

  • Review the COVID-19 interim vaccination plan, including Phase 1A sub-prioritization guidance;
  • Talk with their employer to identify which type of enrolled COVID-19 vaccine provider is most appropriate;
  • Find a participating location if their employer does not assign one;
  • Be patient with providers;
  • Schedule full vaccine regimen; and
  • Provide necessary documentation when being vaccinated.

“The vaccination process will take time. We need Pennsylvanians, including health-care personnel, to be patient as we continue to get the vaccine into the hands of the right people at the right time so we can protect against COVID-19,” Dr. Levine said. “We appreciate the work of our health systems, hospitals, FQHCs, and pharmacies for their partnership in this effort to ensure that all health-care personnel can receive the vaccine. We are hopeful that, as we move forward, additional vaccine trials will be completed and receive an emergency use authorization, enhancing the number of vaccines we receive.”

You can find more information regarding the COVID-19 vaccine, guidance and fact sheets for health-care personnel and enrolled providers related to this order, and the COVID-19 Interim Vaccine Plan at the Department of Health’s website.

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Deadline, as Letters on a Clock

Many providers continue to experience challenges in accessing the Act 24 reporting tool. We continue to hold December 31, 2020 as the reporting deadline. All providers should attempt to use their assigned access to log on and complete the report prior to the deadline. If a provider is unable to access the tool and has submitted a request for user access by December 31, they will have until January 8, 2021 to complete the required reporting. If you have submitted a request to the appropriate RA account, follow-up will occur. Follow-up, based on volume, can occur between three to five days. If you need to request user access, please complete the DHS COVID Tracking – User Change Request form by December 31.

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Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash

The Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) has recently released the Long-Term Care Facility COVID-19 Vaccine Questions document. The Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) is sharing this information here for your convenience.

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Providing Support During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Direct Support Professionals Survey

Direct support professionals (DSPs), like the people with disabilities who they support, face a high risk of infection during the coronavirus pandemic. They also face financial hardship, exhaustion, and challenges in supporting their families.

The Institute on Community Integration (ICI) at the University of Minnesota, in partnership with the National Alliance of Direct Support Professionals (NADSP), is conducting a survey on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on direct support professionals. After more than eight months since a national emergency was declared, we want to know how DSPs are doing and identify the most effective ways to protect them and the people they support.

Please forward this survey to the direct support professionals who you employ. Their answers will be anonymous. National and state-specific results from the survey will be shared widely in March 2021.

A similar survey of DSPs was conducted by ICI and NADSP in the spring of 2020 and completed by more than 9,000 DSPs. Those results are available here. The new survey is for both DSPs who completed the earlier survey and those who did not.

The Institute on Community Integration at the University of Minnesota is a designated University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, which is part of a national network of similar programs in major universities and teaching hospitals across the country. ICI’s collaborative research, training, and information-sharing ensure that people with disabilities are valued by, included in, and able to contribute to their communities of choice throughout their lifetime.

The National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals is a national non-profit whose mission is to elevate the status of direct support professionals by improving practice standards; promoting system reform; and advancing their knowledge, skills, and values. Our vision is a world with a highly qualified and professional direct support workforce who partners with, supports, and empowers people with disabilities to lead a life of their choosing.

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