08/10/2020

Today's COVID-19 Report: Monday, August 10, 2020

Monday, August 10, 2020

Here are the latest need-to-know updates for Monday, August 10 regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.

You Asked/We Answered

You Asked:
Our facility is having another Infection Control survey resulting from a positive COVID case. The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) surveyor was on site this morning to do a walk through and informed me that surveyors have not been tested for COVID.  Nursing homes are mandated to test any staff member every two weeks, and yet surveyors are coming into our buildings, and ODH has not implemented any testing for them!  How does ODH justify that?

We Answered:
ODH confirmed that surveyors are not being tested prior to entering nursing facilities. ODH is taking many precautions including limiting time on-site and wearing the appropriate PPE at all times while on site. ODH further noted that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has not instructed state agencies to do testing for surveyors. LeadingAge Ohio will continue to elevate this issue with ODH and the Administration, as it seems counterintuitive to preventing spread within—and between—nursing facilities.  

New NSPIRE Inspection Standards; HUD to join LeadingAge call

HUD released fully updated inspection standards for the NSPIRE demonstration program, which are used in HUD’s current, two-year demonstration program to evaluate the physical condition of properties. Based on feedback from stakeholders, HUD has adjusted technical accuracy, relevance, and clarity of standards. HUD continues to accept feedback on the standards, which will eventually replace the current Real Estate Assessment Center (REAC) standards across the Multifamily Housing portfolio. Staff from the HUD REAC will join the LeadingAge August 17 Housing Advisory Group call to answer questions and provide updates on the status of the physical inspection pilot program during COVID-19. To join the call or submit advance questions, email jbilowich@leadingage.org.

LeadingAge Asks: Insurers Paying for Employee Testing

LeadingAge has learned that some health insurance plans are now refusing to pay for staff testing, citing a Department of Labor memo related to noncoverage of surveillance testing (testing based not on symptoms or exposure, rather across a group of employees). LeadingAge is seeking input from other members that may have had similar experiences, with insurers refusing to pay for requisite testing. If you’ve had an insurer refuse payment, email Janine Finck-Boyle. Ohio has built its nursing home surveillance testing program on the assumption that private insurers will continue to pay for employee testing.

HB711 Changes DNR Signature Requirements

On July 1, Representative Baldridge (R-Winchester) introduced HB711, a bill which would allow emergency medical personnel to follow Do Not Resuscitate orders (DNR-CC and DNR-CCA) signed by nurse practitioners or physician assistants. The bill corrects a long-standing inconsistency between two portions of the Ohio Revised Code. While Ohio’s DNR statute was revised to allow non-physician providers to sign DNR-CC and DNR-CCA orders, the section of the ORC governing scope of practice for emergency medical personnel was never updated to allow emergency responders to follow these orders.

The inconsistency was identified as a key problem during the last five-year revision of Ohio’s DNR rules, which took effect in September 2019. LeadingAge Ohio has worked with the Department of Public Safety to elevate the issue and bring it to legislation.

LeadingAge Need to Know: COVID-19 – August 10, 2020

LeadingAge shares the latest coronavirus news and resources with members twice each weekday. This morning's update featured the upcoming Collaborative Care HIT Summit hosted by LeadingAge CAST and LTPAC from September 15-17.

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.