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11/24/2020
Today's COVID-19 Report: Tuesday, November 24, 2020
Tuesday, November 24, 2020
Here are the latest need-to-know updates for Tuesday, November 24 regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. While the Thanksgiving holiday doesn’t look at all the way we would like – for staff, for residents, even for our own families – we offer our gratitude and thanks for each and every one of our LeadingAge Ohio members’ work to bless the lives of those served and those who are serving. Wishing each of you a safe, healthy and blessed Thanksgiving!
In Today's Report
- N95 optimization: CDC Update
- State supported testing schedule update: December 3 deadline for opt-in/opt-out
- Podcast on nursing home series for front line clinicians and staff
- HUD reopens COVID-19 payment applications: December 11 deadline
- Adult day letter sent to Congressional leadership
- LeadingAge Need to Know
N95 optimization: CDC Update
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated the guidance on how to optimize N95 respirators during COVID-19, adding crisis capacity strategies, including a recommendation to limit the number of reuses to no more than five donnings per device by the same HCP if no manufacturer guidance is available.
The CDC’s optimization strategies for N95 respirator supply offer a continuum of options for use when PPE supplies are stressed, running low, or exhausted. Contingency and then crisis capacity measures augment conventional capacity measures and are meant to be considered and implemented sequentially. Once N95 respirator availability returns to normal, healthcare facilities should promptly resume conventional practices.
Decisions to implement contingency and crisis strategies are based upon these assumptions:
- Facilities understand their The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) approved respirator inventory and supply chain
- Facilities understand their NIOSH approved respirator utilization rate
- Facilities are in communication with local healthcare coalitions and federal, state, and local public health partners (e.g., public health emergency preparedness and response staff) to identify additional supplies
- Facilities have already implemented other engineering and administrative control measures including:
- Use physical barriers and other engineering controls
- Limit number of patients going to hospital or outpatient settings
- Use telemedicine whenever possible
- Limit all HCP not directly involved in patient care
- Limit face-to-face HCP encounters with patients
- Limit visitors to the facility to those essential for the patient’s physical or emotional well-being and care (e.g., care partner)
- Cohort patients and/or HCP
- Facilities have provided HCP with required education and training, including having them demonstrate competency with donning and doffing, with any PPE ensemble that is used to perform job responsibilities, such as provision of patient care
It is important to consult with the respirator manufacturer regarding the maximum number of donnings or uses they recommend for the N95 respirator model. If no manufacturer guidance is available, data suggest limiting the number of reuses to no more than five uses (five donnings) per device by the same HCP to ensure an adequate respirator performance. HCP should always inspect the respirator and perform a seal check upon donning a re-used respirator.
State supported testing schedule: December 3 deadline for opt-in/opt-out
If a member facility failed to opt-in to the state-supported testing program, the facility will not receive state-support for COVID-19 testing from November 23 to December 18. The next monthly opportunity to make changes or opt-in/opt-out will be December 1 to December 3 for the December 21 to January 15 testing cycle. Please contact COVIDTesting@age.ohio.gov with any questions.
Podcast on nursing home series for front line clinicians and staff
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the first episode in a series of short podcasts for frontline nursing home staff “CMS Beyond the Policy”. Today’s edition is titled “Nursing Home Series for Front Line Clinicians and Staff.” Dr. Shari Ling, Deputy Chief Medical Office for CMS, and geriatrician is joined by David Wright, Director of the Quality Safety & Oversight Group, to discuss training and infection control practices in nursing homes to help combat the spread of COVID-19.
HUD reopens COVID-19 payment applications: December 11 deadline
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced the continued availability of supplemental funds for HUD-assisted multifamily housing providers responding to COVID-19. In July, HUD had announced the initial request period for COVID-19 Supplemental Payments; the new HUD notice establishes a second request window and updates the submission requirements. The filing deadline for multifamily housing owners is December 11 for expenses incurred through November 30. Properties that did not receive payments for the earlier time-frame, March 27 through July 31, may resubmit for that period as well. Compared to the previous notice, HUD has made changes to include clarifications on the eligibility of Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) Section 8 properties, eligible activities for CSP funds, and allowable signatories for the request form. More information is available here, and reach out to jbilowich@leadingage.org with any additional questions.
Adult day letter sent to Congressional leadership
LeadingAge and the National Adult Day Services Association (NADSA) sent a letter to Congressional leadership late last week to push for dedicated federal funding.
LeadingAge Need to Know: COVID-19 – November 24, 2020
LeadingAge shares the latest coronavirus news and resources with members twice each weekday. This morning's update featured a message from Katie Smith Sloan and a Thanksgiving telepresser.
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.