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CDPH Describes Hospital Surge Monitoring Visits, Other Survey Activity
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has issued All Facilities Letter (AFL) 20-69, which outlines the survey activities the department will conduct for both hospitals and skilled-nursing facilities.
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CDPH has issued AFL 20-70, which recommends that skilled-nursing facilities coordinate with their non-emergency medical transportation and non-medical transportation providers, in accordance with the Department of Health Care Services guidance.
Next CDPH Call for Health Care Facilities: Sept. 22, 8-9 a.m. (PT)
Dial: (844) 721-7239
Passcode: 7993227
Summary of Sept. 15 CDPH Call
CDPH has provided a summary of its most recent weekly call with health care facilities.
Upcoming CMS Calls
CMS will host its Lessons from the Front Lines call on Friday — a joint effort between CMS Administrator Seema Verma, FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn, MD, and the White House Coronavirus Task Force. Physicians and other clinicians are invited to share their experiences, ideas, strategies, and insights with one another related to their COVID-19 response. CMS will also host five other calls next week. Details are as follows:
Lessons from the Front Lines: Sept. 18 at 9:30 a.m. (PT)
Dial: (833) 614-0820
Passcode: 4446447
Audio Webcast
Hospitals: Sept. 22 at 2 p.m. (PT)
Dial: (833) 614-0820
Passcode: 2409459
Audio webcast
Home Health & Hospice: Sept. 22 at noon (PT)
Dial: (833) 614-0820
Passcode: 1169237
Audio webcast
Nursing Homes: Sept. 23 at 1:30 p.m. (PT)
Dial: (833) 614-0820
Passcode: 5839938
Audio webcast
Dialysis Organizations: Sept. 23 at 2:30 p.m. (PT)
Dial: (833) 614-0820
Passcode: 7026727
Audio webcast
Nurses: Sept. 24 at noon (PT)
Dial: (833) 614-0820
Passcode: 5872398
Audio webcast
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CDPH has issued AFL 20-53.3, updating its guidance for testing health care personnel and residents at skilled-nursing facilities. The revised AFL clarifies and aligns with the CMS interim final rule on testing, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance and terminology. Among the important updates:
Skilled-nursing facilities without positive COVID-19 cases are required to test all health care personnel weekly.
Those with a positive COVID-19 case are required to implement response-driven testing, as described in the AFL.
Use of point-of-care antigen test instruments and associated requirements
Test reporting requirements
The AFL also clarifies policies for testing newly admitted/readmitted residents and residents previously diagnosed with COVID-19, and quarantine for newly admitted residents.
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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Seema Verma announced on Twitter on Monday that the agency has withdrawn its proposed Medicaid Fiscal Accountability Rule.
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On Sept. 4, the Department of Managed Health Care issued All Plan Letter (APL) 20-032 as a continuation of its policies on telehealth during the COVID-19 state of emergency.
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Last week, 246 members of the House of Representatives, including 35 from California, signed a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Azar urging him to use his authority to address recent actions taken by pharmaceutical companies that undermine the 340B Drug Pricing Program.
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Last week, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration released the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. The annual survey is the nation’s primary resource for data on mental health and substance use among Americans.
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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, in partnership with the Administration for Community Living, has published a tool to support effective discharge planning and care coordination for adults with disabilities who have received hospital care for COVID-19 and require continuation or reconnection to supports and services. It explains the Olmstead decision, lays out potential pathways for adults with disabilities diagnosed with COVID-19, and provides information on state and federal resources.
Next CDPH Call for Health Care Facilities: Sept. 15, 8-9 a.m. (PT)
Dial: (844) 721-7239
Passcode: 7993227
Summary of Sept. 8 CDPH Call
CDPH has provided a summary of its most recent weekly call with health care facilities.
New Publishing Schedule for Coronavirus Response
Beginning the week of Sept. 14, Coronavirus Response will be published on Tuesdays. You can also find COVID-19-related news and updates in CHA’s twice-weekly newsletter, CHA News, which is distributed on Mondays and Thursdays.
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The Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman and the California Long-Term Care Ombudsman Association have developed a phased re-entry plan for on-site ombudsman visits to skilled-nursing facilities. The plan was developed in association with recently updated guidance from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), which requires facilities to permit the ombudsman to enter long-term care facilities, regardless of whether there is a COVID-19 outbreak.
The goal of the re-entry plan is to resume in-person advocacy activities safely, thoughtfully, and gradually. During the initial phase of the plan, on-site visits will be scheduled on a limited and prioritized basis. They will be focused on investigations that cannot be conducted by virtual communications and serious physical or sexual abuse and neglect complaints. Prior to any on-site visits, ombudsman staff will complete competency training in infection control procedures and personal protective equipment use and are subject to screening for fever and symptoms. Additionally, local long-term care ombudsman programs are working to align testing requirements with skilled-nursing facilities in their area.
Skilled-nursing facilities are encouraged to contact their local long-term care ombudsman office for additional information, and to consider inviting the ombudsman staff to visit their facility.