09/25/2020
Today's COVID-19 Report: Monday, September 28, 2020
Monday, September 28, 2020
Here are the latest need-to-know updates for Monday, September 28 regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.
ODH releases new testing survey
ODH sent out the new testing survey monkey to all nursing home providers in an EIDC bulletin today.
This survey is mandatory and must be completed by Wednesday, September 30 at 9 AM. Nursing home responses to this survey are necessary to help the state prepare to support nursing home testing per the CMS and state testing requirements. This survey will give ODH POINT IN TIME information regarding nursing homes' needs for state support for testing. This survey should be completed one time by each nursing home.
A different survey link will be distributed at a later date for nursing homes to provide updated information on an ongoing basis regarding their needs for state support (i.e. to opt in/out, update supply requests, update point of contact information).
The new state supported survey strategy begins October 5. The new schedule was to be released on September 28. LeadingAge Ohio will members the new schedule when it is released by ODH.
Revised regulation on COVID-19 employee leave
Tomorrow, September 29 at 2 pm, there will be a live presentation giving a regulation overview of revisions “clarifying workers’ rights and employers’ responsibilities on the Families First Coronavirus Response Act’s paid leave provisions.” The presentation is through the LeadingAge Learning Hub and is free to members. Topics covered will include:
- Changes to the definition of which employees may be exempted from the paid sick leave and FMLA leave.
- Considerations for when your employees must provide notice, what documentation is expected, and if employees can take leave on an intermittent basis.
- How to determine if an employee is “otherwise available to work”, which employees are considered a “health care provider” and which are eligible for paid leave.
- Understand the records you must keep as an employer and how to be reimbursed for leave taken by your employees.
Click here to register for the event. The event is a ‘live’ presentation and will not be recorded.
False-positive testing results with antigen testing devices
Many LeadingAge Ohio members are reporting receiving several false positives (or ‘discordant results’) using the antigen testing machines. The manufacturers have requested the following steps be taken when a false positive testing result is received.
For BD Veritor false positives providers should
- Call 1-800-638-8663 for providers who experience false positives (press 2 for technical support and then 1 for Veritor support); or
- email BD at Technical_Services@bd.com
- BD offers this microsite and these training webinars which we encourage members to review if they are having concerns with accuracy to make sure they are following all the instructions correctly.
For Quidel false positives, providers should
- Call 800-874-1517, option 2, then option 1 or email Quidel at Technical Support (Quidel San Diego) technicalsupport@quidel.com
- Visit toquidel.com view online training mdules
- Quidel offers live training seminars every Tuesday and Thursday at 12 P.M. EST which members are encouraged to attend if concerns with accuracy; this will ensure instructions are accurately understood. An individual must complete the entire training program to receive a certificate.
Members should continue to use these POC tests but LeadingAge Ohio encourages members to follow the CDC guidance and algorithm on when to conduct confirmation testing of positive antigen tests.
Finally, ODH has asked CMS for clarification on how to handle confirmatory negative RT-PCR following a positive antigen result. CMS referred ODH to the CDC algorithm which guides nursing homes to do a confirmatory RT-PCR test for healthcare personnel that test positive, are asymptomatic, and is a result of routine testing and not as part of outbreak testing. If the confirmatory test is negative then the nursing home is guided to work with public health. Nursing homes should work in collaboration with their local health district (LHD) and document any guidance. It is also a best practice to ensure both the provider and the LHD are referring to the most recent CDC guidance as these decisions are being made.
CLIA quick-start tools released
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced the release of new tools for laboratories seeking Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) certification to test for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). CMS’ quick-start guide helps laboratories with the application process for CLIA certification. The guide helps to ensure the form is submitted to the correct state agency. Laboratories can pay the CLIA certification fees on the CMS CLIA Program website. The CLIA Certificate Fee Schedule contains detailed information on costs. This new guide provides laboratories with the resources they need to reduce paperwork and streamline the CLIA application and certification process.
MDS changes effective October 1, 2020
Ohio will be collecting Patient Driven Payment Model (PDPM) data on OBRA assessments starting October 1. The Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) will use this information to compare the current RUG IV-based payment model to PDPM billing. The 28 MDS item set fields associated with PDPM will be completed on OBRA assessments. PDPM reimbursement was developed based on short stay residents' characteristics. ODM has provided guidance in a recent fact sheet on the following items as it relates to long term residents.
- All data elements in Section GG will be collected using the 3-day performance period of the Assessment Reference Date (ARD) plus the two-days prior.
- The resident's primary medical condition coded in I0020 and I0020B should represent the current medical condition for which the resident requires care and placement in the facility.
- Capturing recent surgeries in J2100 should only apply if the resident had an inpatient stay in the last 30 days for at least one day for said surgery and the surgery carried some degree of risk as outlined in the RAI manual.
Ohio’s email for MDS is MDScasemix@medicaid.ohio.gov. Any questions related to the RAI manual may be directed to Stephanie DeWees, Quality and Regulatory Specialist, at sdewees@leadingageohio.org.
COVID-19 member pulse survey closes in two days
In a special bulletin last Monday, a request was sent to provider members to complete a brief 'pulse' survey to gain member feedback needed to stay nimble in advocacy efforts and stay on target with resource development. Seeking ways to enhance the services and resources LeadingAge Ohio provides members throughout this pandemic and beyond remains a key priority. If you have not had a chance to complete the survey, please take a moment to complete the COVID-19 Member Pulse Survey. The survey is estimated to take less than 10 minutes and will close this Wednesday, September 30.
LeadingAge Need to Know: COVID-19 – September 28, 2020
LeadingAge shares the latest coronavirus news and resources with members twice each weekday. This morning's update featured an announcement regarding the LeadingAge Annual Meeting - Virtual Experience and member solutions for CPVID-19 needs.
Check out the full report here.
Questions
Please send all questions to COVID19@leadingageohio.org. Additionally, members are encouraged to visit the LeadingAge Ohio COVID-19 Working Group facebook group to pose questions to peers and share best practices. LeadingAge is continuing its daily calls for all members. To participate in these daily online updates, members should register here.
LeadingAge Ohio is working to ensure that the information in our daily alerts, on our website, and all coronavirus-related communications is as accurate as possible. However, LeadingAge Ohio makes no guarantees about the accuracy of the information.