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CMS Updates Nursing Home Testing Guidance
On September 15, 2021 by Jonathan Lips
On Sept. 10, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) updated QSO-20-38-NH concerning nursing home testing to align with recently updated recommendations from the CDC.
What to Do When You Have a COVID-19 Outbreak
On August 25, 2021 by Kari Everson
In the last several weeks, the number of COVID-19 outbreaks in nursing homes and assisted living settings have increased. Because there was an extended time when outbreaks were low, we have received many questions about handling them, specifically visitation and testing.
MDH Updates COVID-19 Testing Recommendations
On August 4, 2021 by Kari Everson
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) release new testing recommendations for long-term care providers on Monday, Aug. 3.
The Delta variant is more easily transmissible and spreads faster than the original COVID-19 virus or other variants, primarily among unvaccinated and vulnerable individuals. Data shows most COVID-19 cases in long-term care organizations are brought in by staff members. With the Delta variant, the dominant strain in Minnesota, there is risk for increased infection in our settings.
Rising Positivity Rates Means More Testing for Care Centers
On April 21, 2021 by Jeff Bostic
After rising to very high levels in late 2020, positivity rates of COVID-19 tests in Minnesota dropped dramatically in early 2021. In addition to providing a welcome drop in cases in long-term care settings, it also meant a reduced testing burden in care centers where a federal mandate ties surveillance testing frequency to the county positivity rate.
Reporting Antigen Test Results: A Refresher on the Requirements
On March 10, 2021 by Jonathan Lips
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has reminded providers about the importance of reporting COVID-19 point of care antigen test results.
Many providers, both care centers and assisted living, are administering antigen tests, using the Quidel Sofia or BD Veritor systems, or the Abbott BinaxNOW COVID-19 card tests. The MDH epidemiology team recently shared with us that it believes some providers are not consistently reporting the results of those rapid, point of care tests, and so we wanted to share a reminder of the requirements.
State Support Still Available for PPE, Testing, Staffing
On February 17, 2021 by Jonathan Lips
While COVID-19 cases in aging services settings have fallen sharply in recent months, we know the virus is still having a serious impact on many providers.
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) wishes to remind providers that it continues to have resources available for nursing homes and assisted living providers that need support:
Update on Reporting Point of Care Antigen Test Results
On January 13, 2021 by Jonathan Lips
The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) has granted certified nursing facilities more flexibility in terms of where facilities submit the results of point-of-care antigen tests. We expect the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) to update its “Reporting Results of COVID-19 Tests” guidance today, to reflect this change.
CMS, CDC and QIOs Proactively Calling Nursing Homes
On November 25, 2020 by Jonathan Lips
Minnesota nursing homes may be receiving calls with questions and offers of assistance from CMS, CDC, or Superior Health, the Medicare Quality Innovation Network-Quality Improvement Organization (QIN-QIO) serving Minnesota. The LeadingAge national team recently passed along this information from CMS about non-regulatory outreach currently underway:
Community Spread Drives Huge Increase in Test Positivity Rate; Governor Announces New Statewide Restrictions
On November 18, 2020 by Jeff Bostic
For those tracking the COVID-19 test positivity rate by county, particularly care centers using that data to determine their staff testing protocol, the accelerated community spread in the last few weeks has had a huge impact. CMS test data for the two weeks ended 9/30 showed Minnesota with 35 green counties (positivity less than 5%), 46 yellow counties (5-10%) and 6 red counties (over 10%). In the most recent data, for the two weeks ended 11/11, virtually all MN counties are now red, with only four rural counties (Cook, Fillmore, Lake and Lake of the Woods) with yellow status and none in green.
Additional NHSN Training on POC Test Reporting Tool
On November 11, 2020 by Jonathan Lips
CDC has announced two more training session opportunities on the new point-of-care testing tool on NHSN. Trainings will be held this week on Thursday, November 12 at 2:00 PM Central Time and Friday, November 13 at 11:00 AM Central Time. Register for these training sessions here. The slides have been posted here. CDC has promised to post a recording of the training session in the future.
Rising COVID-19 Cases Creates Huge Jump in “Red” Counties
On November 4, 2020 by Jeff Bostic
As community spread of COVID-19 continues at a rapid pace in Minnesota, it has consequences for care centers under the CMS staff testing mandate. The most recent CMS data, for the period from 10/15 through 10/28, has 29 counties with red status, due to a test positivity rate of over 10%. That’s up from 13 counties just a week before. Care centers who are using the CMS data to determine their testing practice and who are now in a red county will have to implement twice a week staff testing.
COVID-19 Resource Round-Up
On October 28, 2020 by Terri Foley
In LeadingAge Minnesota’s weekly Huddles and Clinical Coaching Rooms, we continue to get questions about the length of quarantine and when staff can be back at work.
LTC Imperative Completes Survey on Testing in Consultation with MDH
On October 28, 2020 by Jeff Bostic
The LTC Imperative recently wrapped up our most recent short survey, this one on testing practices using questions developed in consultation with MDH to give them a view into what is happening with testing in long-term care.
MDH Releases New Resources for LTC Providers for Testing & Reporting
On October 28, 2020 by Kari Everson
Today, the Minnesota Department of Health published two new resources to assist members with testing and reporting requirements.
COVID-19 Resource Round-Up: Testing Tools and Links
On October 21, 2020 by Terri Foley
Testing continues to be an ongoing issue and challenge during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Quick Survey on Testing: Please Respond by Tomorrow Morning
On October 21, 2020 by Jeff Bostic
The LTC Imperative is continuing a series of quick surveys to take the pulse of members on key issues.
NHSN Enables Reporting of COVID Test Results: Providers Must Continue Reporting Directly to the State
On October 21, 2020 by Jonathan Lips
Effective last Friday, Oct. 16, the CDC’s National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) enables nursing facilities and assisted living providers to report COVID-19 point-of-care test results to the NHSN system.
Does an Employee’s Refusal to Test Qualify for Emergency Paid Sick Leave?
On October 21, 2020 by Kari Thurlow
LeadingAge MN has received several questions from members regarding an employee’s refusal to participate in COVID-19 outbreak testing.
Update on Abbott BinaxNOW Test Distribution
On September 30, 2020 by Jonathan Lips
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has provided updated information concerning distribution of the Abbott BinaxNOW COVID-19 rapid point-of-care tests.
COVID-19 Resource Roundup: Testing Tools & Support
On September 9, 2020 by Terri Foley
Last week’s CMS Testing Rule generated many new tools for nursing homes on our COVID-19 webpage.