RCPA has been contacted by members with personal protective equipment (PPE) resources. If you are interested in additional PPE, please contact the resources below directly:
G5B Solutions, Inc.
John Rinaldo, President/CEO
Phone: 717-462-9801
PPE available
LD Innovations LLC
Dan Meyers
Phone: 727-432-9988
PPE available
CMS has announced it will be hosting two calls tomorrow, Thursday, April 9, with the opportunity to ask questions of CMS officials regarding COVID-19 regulatory relief. A Special Open Door Forum – CMS Hospital Without Walls During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency – is scheduled for April 9, 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. ET and CMS “Office Hours” on COVID-19 is scheduled for April 9, 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. ET. Details on the calls are included below.
Special Open Door Forum: CMS Hospital Without Walls During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency
The Special Open Door Forum is scheduled for Thursday, April 9, 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm ET. The forum will include a question and answer session and is open to the public.
Dial-In Information: 1-888-455-1397 Participant Passcode: 3535324
CMS “Office Hours” on COVID-19
CMS “Office Hours” on COVID-19 is scheduled for Thursday, April 9, 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. ET. The call is open to hospitals, health systems, and providers and will include a question and answer session. Providers can submit questions in advance to [email protected], including “Office Hours” in the subject line. There will also be an opportunity for live questions and answers on the following topics:
Join by Webcast or by phone:
Dial-In Information: 833-614-0820
Participant Passcode: 1881716
Today, April 8, 2020, ODP updated the reporting requirements outlined in ODP Announcement 20-041 to include reporting when a direct support professional or provider staff has been tested for COVID-19 in addition to those who have a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19.
Reporting Direct Service Professionals/Provider Staff:
ODP is requiring providers to report all cases of staff that have been tested or have a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19. Providers should continue to notify the ODP Regulatory Administration Unit. All of the required information listed in 20-041 should continue to be submitted for staff who have been tested or have a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19.
The latest alert from the PA Department of Health is available. In part, it states, “The Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) is asking that clinicians provide the current guidance on isolation to patients being evaluated for COVID-19 to ensure that timely recommendations are provided to reduce spread of disease.” The current guidance includes patient instructions for self-isolation while awaiting laboratory results. It also includes a close contact check list, which physicians will be providing to anyone that is tested positive for COVID-19; individuals will be asked to begin tracing the contacts they have had since 48 hours prior to development of symptoms. These handouts can be helpful in your ongoing guidance you provide to the staff in your community programs.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced they will be awarding $186 million in supplemental funding to go towards the COVID-19 outbreak. The focus of this funding is for regions that have a high number of COVID-19 cases. Some examples of how this funding can be used include: staffing and surge staffing; lab equipment; and infection control.
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