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We are closely monitoring the news and guidance concerning COVID-19 and are working with the Governor’s office, the Indiana Department of Health and AHCA/NCAL, to ensure our member providers receive the necessary guidance to care for the most vulnerable Hoosiers during this public health emergency. Visit this webpage daily to access the latest updates.
On October 15, 2021, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra extended the ongoing COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) for an additional 90 days. The new expiration date for the COVID-19 PHE is now set for mid-January 2022. Any decision to allow the PHE to lapse would come with 60 days of notice.
Telehealth flexibilities, enhanced FMAP, SNF-specific waivers (3-Day Stay, Spell of Illness) and other COVID-19 related Medicare, Medicaid, and regulatory waivers remain in place.
On October 6, 2021, the IDH made a few revisions to the COVID-19 Infection Control Guidance that was updated on Sept. 28 and accordingly also update the COVID-19 LTC Toolkit. The most updated versions of these guidance documents along with their summaries can be accessed below.
On September 30, 2021, Governor Eric Holcomb issued Executive Order 21-26, which extends Indiana’s public health emergency until October 31, 2021. Indiana’s public health emergency was set to expire on September 30, 2021 and can be extended in 30-day increments at a time under state law. The federal public health emergency has been extended through October 18, 2021 and is expected to be extended for 90 days at a time through the end of 2021.
Indiana Medicaid has posted on Myers & Stauffer’s a website notice that the COVID-19 Ready reimbursement will be extended through October 31, 2021 (it was originally set to end on October 16). The policy is in response to the need to ease the growing stresses on the state’s hospital capacity by helping nursing facilities offset the growing and large costs for operating COVID-19 units. The effective dates for qualifying providers are dates of services between September 20, 2021 and October 31, 2021.
The temporary increases are 4% per patient day (all Medicaid patients in the facility) for facilities that attest to being COVID-19 Ready and an additional $230 per COVID-19 positive resident.
Today, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) released additional information on the $17 Billion Phase 4 and the $8.5 Billion Rural Distribution application. Applicants will be able to apply for both Provider Relief Fund (PRF) Phase 4 and American Rescue Plan (ARP) Rural payments during the application process. PRF Phase 4 is open to a broad range of providers with changes in operating revenues and expenses.
On September 24, 2021 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as well as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a booster shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for certain groups of individuals, including residents and health care workers in long-term care. This decision by the CDC and DFA offers another layer of protection that we need to fight the coronavirus that uniquely targets our vulnerable long-term care population.
The Indiana Department of Health (IDH) also supports the administration of Pfizer vaccine booster dose to people 18 years and older who completed the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine as their primary series, and it has been at least six months since receiving the second dose, and they attest to meeting CDC guidelines as outlined here.
IHCA/INCAL has developed this page to list relevant COVID-19 vaccine resources. As we receive more information, we will continue to update this page with latest information.
As of April 15 the Indiana Department of Health will be unable to participate in the webinars on a weekly basis. However, IHCA/INCAL staff will continue to host the webinars to answer your questions and provide guidance. IHCA/INCAL will engage IDOH on issues that cannot be answered during each webinar and also plan with IDOH on the times that they can participate in some of the webinars.
HOW TO JOIN THE WEBINAR
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Or call in (audio only)
+1 463-900-4253,,240786210# United States, Indianapolis
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October 14, 2021
October 7, 2021
September 30, 2021
September 23. 2021
September 16, 2021
September 9, 2021
September 2, 2021
To access archive recordings of the webinars, please click here.
EMResource is a web-based resource management and communication tool used to monitor and notify changes in resources statuses. IDH is asking you to update your PPE supplies daily in this tool so that resources can be distributed efficiently.
Coordinate account registration with your facility administrator. We recommend designating at least two individuals that can track and input data into EMResource.
IHCA/INCAL Contact: Zach Cattell| zcatell@ihca.org
June 28: OSHA’s Emergency Temporary Standard for Health Care Workers
May 24: Emotional PPE Project
March 23: Extension of Temporary Health Care Licenses
November 23: Criminal History and Fingerprinting Requirements during the PHE
November 17: OSHA Releases Frequently Cited Standards Related to COVID-19 Inspections
November 9: OSHA Releases Respiratory Protection Guidance for LTCFs
November 6: IDH Issues Certified Nurse Aide Training Program Orders
October 19: Indiana Health Care Reserve Workforce
September 14: Update to Paid Leave Requirements of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act
August 20: Influenza Vaccinations as a Condition of Employment
August 12: OSHA Increases Scrutiny on Long-Term Care Facilities
July 1: Nursing Licensure Compact – Effective July 1, 2020
March 29: Hiring and On-Boarding Workforce Resources
March 29: Department of Labor Guidance on New Leave Benefits
EMResource is a web-based resource management and communication tool used to monitor and notify changes in resources statuses. IDH is asking you to update your PPE supplies daily in this tool so that resources can be distributed efficiently.
Coordinate account registration with your facility administrator. We recommend designating at least two individuals that can track and input data into EMResource.
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