Our team has pulled together a collection of resources/information that will help long-term care facilities better navigate this uncertain time. In addition, visit our Web site for additional news and resources related to COVID-19. Again, we thank you for your efforts every day to keep our community and family members safe during this challenging time.
ALL ABOUT SOCIAL SECURITY ACT SECTION 1135 WAIVERS FOR COVID-19
Do your stakeholders have questions about the 1135 waivers that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued as part of its COVID-19 response? This CMS presentation outlines the different types of waivers, who needs them and most importantly, how to make claims and requests for individual waivers.
WHEN COVID-19 GETS INTO YOUR LTC FACILITY
The American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living has updated this resource as COVID-19 is rapidly spreading across the country and is increasingly impacting nursing homes and assisted living communities. Due to the rapid progression, centers should assume it is already in their surrounding community and may be in their facility.
This resource outlines four action steps: 1) isolate, 2) minimize contacts with all residents, 3) increase transmission -based precautions and 4) increase monitoring of residents and staff.
CMS GUIDANCE ON COHORTING
All nursing homes and assisted living communities should make plans for cohorting residents even before COVID-19 enters the building. Cohorting is imperative to help control the spread of the virus. If possible, nursing homes and assisted living communities should also begin preparing wings, units or floors as “isolation units”. Isolation unit should be a separate, well-ventilated area, ideally with a separate entrance. AHCA/NCAL has an easy to read cohorting residents document that matches the CMS and CDC COVID-19 Long Term Care Facility Guidance April 2, 2020 .
CMS GUIDANCE ON LONG-TERM CARE FACILITY TRANSFER GUIDANCE AND SCENARIOS
On April 13, 2020 CMS released supplemental information for transferring or discharging residents between Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs) and/or nursing facilities based on COVID-19 status (i.e., positive, negative, unknown/under observation). In general, if two or more certified LTC facilities want to transfer or discharge residents between themselves for the purposes of cohorting, they do not need any additional approval to do so. However, if a certified LTC facility would like to transfer or discharge residents to a non-certified location for the purposes of cohorting, they need approval from the State Survey Agency. A copy of the guidance and a graphic explaining the various scenarios can be found here: CMS QSO-20-25-NH Long Term Care Facility Transfer Scenarios.
CMS FAQ’s DOCUMENT FOR MEDICARE BILLING AND WAIVERS
CMS released an updated COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Medicare Fee-for-Service (FFS) Billing document. The document addresses SNF FAQs [starting on page 34]. The FAQ is a supplement to the March 15, 2020 Policies and Procedures under 1135 Waiver document and Policies and Procedures without 1135 Waivers document. Check this resource often for new updates.