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Tags Posts tagged with "Pandemic"

Pandemic

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ANCOR is offering this webinar on January 21, 2022, from 1:30 pm–3:00 pm Eastern Standard Time.

Register Yourself | Register Others

The Supreme Court has cleared the path for CMS to implement its Omnibus COVID-19 Health Care Staff Vaccination Interim Final Rule. This rule establishes regulations and requires that ICF/IIDs programs mandate COVID-19 vaccination, ensuring that their staff are fully vaccinated. With the Phase 1 deadline approaching on January 27 or February 14 (depending on which state you’re located), join us to learn what to expect and how to prepare.

This webinar will walk participants through the Supreme Court’s rulings and implications for the future, what is being required and when, policy and procedure development, documentation and tracking, contingency planning (especially for those whose staffing is already low), what to expect from surveyors, and how to manage citations and avoid immediate jeopardy. Given that the CMS COVID-19 vaccination requirement is not optional for ICF/IIDs and there is no testing option, now is the time to act.

This webinar is most appropriate for ICF/IID employees responsible for compliance and includes human resources, senior management, QIDPs, administrators, directors of nursing, and supervisory staff. A recording will be made available for registrants.

Presenters

  • Lydia Dawson, Director of Policy, Regulatory and Legal Analysis, ANCOR
  • Catherine Thibedeau, Executive Director, Independence Advocates of Maine

Registration

  • FREE for ANCOR members. Please note that RCPA Providers are also ANCOR members and qualify for the free webinar.
  • $109 for non-members.

Interested in participating but unavailable on January 21 at 1:30 pm EST? Register anyway to receive the recording!

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Photo by Jakayla Toney on Unsplash

COVID-19 testing is an essential activity that increases safety for congregate care settings as part of a comprehensive mitigation strategy. Two resources are now available for providers and facilities.

Operation Expanded Testing (OpET) is a federal testing resource that may be useful to your organization. Please see the presentation slides for more detailed information. Providers wishing to use OpET as a resource should coordinate directly with Eurofins.

OpET At A Glance

  • No contract is needed for participation in OpET.
  • No charge. OpET is 100% funded through the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
  • No exclusivity. The organization can end testing at any time for any reason.
  • All supplies are sent to testing location two weeks in advance at no charge.
  • All training is supplied at no charge.
  • No charge for courier services; Eurofins will coordinate specimen pickup and supply delivery.
  • No waiting to get another sample. Auto retesting (reflex) if PCR pooled group is found to be positive.
  • No cost rapid testing. When used in conjunction with PCR pooled testing program, antigen testing is available for program options.
  • 24-hour results turnaround (TAT) for PCR testing.
  • Reporting is fully automated and HIPAA compliant using Concentric by Ginkgo.
  • Testing flexibility — facility can determine their own testing frequency, with specific PCR pooled groups of 5–24 samples at a time.
  • Staff can participate in the OpET program.

If you wish to enroll or have questions related to Operation Expanded Testing, please contact Eurofins via email or call 833-742-0862. Questions related to this communication should be directed virtually here.

In addition, due to the recent surge in COVID-19, the Bureau of Human Services Licensing (BHSL) has been receiving a large number of requests for testing support. If your facility needs testing due to an active outbreak or to prepare for an outbreak, please contact the Dept. of Health via email for questions about LTC testing assistance and/or to get access to testing support and resources. You can also complete and submit the “Universal Testing Needs Assessment Form.” If eligible, someone will contact you for scheduling.

If you are a facility requesting additional Abbott BinaxNOW cards, please email with the amount of tests requested and your shipping information. Note that your facility must have a CLIA certification to perform rapid COVID antigen testing to be eligible for the BinaxNOW cards.

Please contact the Dept. of Health for any additional information on testing.

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A Message from Kevin Dressler:

Health Alert Updates

Please see the three Health Alert Network (HAN) updates from the Department of Health regarding treatment for COVID positive people, as well as work restrictions for exposure and return to work guidance. These HANs have been updated over the past two weeks, can be of assistance in updating your COVID response plans, and have components built into them to assist in mitigating staff shortages.

You can also find information at the DOH HAN website.

Department of Health Division of ICF

I would like to announce to the group and welcome Susan DiFuccia as Acting Chief of the Division of ICF. She replaces Orlando Hernandez, whom recently retired after an honorable career in the DOH Division of ICF. Susan has been the Supervisor for the Jackson Center and Pittsburgh DOH survey teams for many years as well as a respected member of the DOH Division of ICF, whom will thrive in her new role.

ICF Taskforce Meeting

The next ICF Taskforce Meeting will be held on February 24, 2022, from 1:00 pm–3:00 pm. A link to the meeting will be forthcoming. If you have any specific topics, please send them to me for possible inclusion in the meeting agenda.

6600 Regulations Update

The 6600 regulations update will be shared for public comment in the coming weeks. Please look for them and provided comments as designated in the announcement. There will also be an opportunity to discuss the regulations at the next ICF Taskforce Meeting.

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