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AHCA, NCAL Gold Quality Award Achievers Talk Strategy, Sacrifice	<blockquote><h4><span class="ms-rteThemeForeColor-6-4 ms-rteFontSize-2">National Quality Awards Ceremony </span></h4><h4><span class="ms-rteThemeForeColor-6-4 ms-rteFontSize-2"><strong>Don’t miss the Live National Quality Awards Ceremony, which begins at 2:00 p.m. ET Thursday, Oct. 22, in the General Session and Special Events Theater in conjunction with AHCA/NCAL’s 70th Virtual Convention & Expo. </strong></span></h4><h4><span class="ms-rteThemeForeColor-6-4 ms-rteFontSize-2"><strong>All 719 Bronze, 147 Silver, and 4 Gold recipients will be honored. Attendees are invited to join in the chat function to share congratulatory messages and shout out to other 2020 recipients. </strong></span></h4><h4><span class="ms-rteThemeForeColor-6-4"><strong class="ms-rteFontSize-2"> Registration for the convention closes Friday, Oct. 23. Not signed up?</strong><span class="ms-rteFontSize-2"> </span><a href="https://www.eventscribe.com/2020/AHCANCAL/aaStatic.asp?SFP=WURZVUdSWVlAMzk3NA%29"><strong class="ms-rteThemeForeColor-6-4 ms-rteFontSize-2">Register now.</strong></a> </span></h4></blockquote><p></p> <style> p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin:0in; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif; } a:link, span.MsoHyperlink { color:#0563C1; text-decoration:underline; } span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed { color:#954F72; text-decoration:underline; } .MsoChpDefault { font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif; } .MsoPapDefault { margin-bottom:8.0pt; line-height:107%; } div.WordSection1 { } </style> <p>A quartet of providers has received the preeminent Gold National Quality Award designation from the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) for 2020 and is being honored for their achievement during the association’s annual convention that runs on a virtual basis through the month of October.</p><p>Jane Martin, RN, director of nursing, Treutlen Health and Rehabilitation, Soperton, Ga., says for her 50-bed facility in rural Georgia the latest attempt to achieve Gold started five years back when the organization earned Bronze from AHCA/NCAL, then Silver in 2017.</p><p>“That is when we decided to go for the Gold,” she says. “We [earned] a site visit last year and then this year got the Gold award.”</p><p>Going for the top honor and going for the Bronze or Silver are worlds apart, Martin notes. “The Gold is so much different, and you really need to dedicate time to it.” This work includes copious writing down to report quality-based outcomes for residents, since getting positive results is what the award process is all about, she says.</p><p>“Probably the most difficult things is collecting the data. Everything has a different measurement time frame, so I really rely on LTC Trend Tracker [from AHCA/NCAL], NursingHome Compare…You need to know all of these data today on a regular basis.”</p><p>Once all the hard work resulted in the Gold, Martin says sharing the good news, in a COVID-sensitive manner, was a great feeling for staff and residents alike.</p><p>“We were in a huge open area when we told them, and it was a lot of yelling through masks,” she says. “It was kind of sad that we could not hug or have family there, but we did our best.”</p><p>As for what she would tell fellow providers about the award program, Martin says facilities should do it; even though it is not easy, it is well worth it. “We all learned so much through the process, and there were so many little things along the way, it has changed the way we live and work here.”</p><p>Kristin Thrun, administrator, Burgess Square Healthcare and Rehab Centre, Westmont, Ill., says her nursing home got into the quality award world because back in 2012 when accountable care organizations and other value-based care entities emerged in her area, it became imperative for her facility to set itself apart.</p><p>“The focus became even more pronounced on overall performance outcomes and quality measures, and becoming part of the AHCA award process helped us to do this in a systematic way,” she says.</p><p>After receiving some local awards for their work with residents, the facility earned Bronze from AHCA/NCAL in 2017 and then eyed going for Gold after that. </p><p>“I think the biggest challenge is continuing to push forward in terms of meeting the criteria and putting our programs in place and sustaining them despite the external challenges brought on by things like changes in payment models [person-directed payment model] and keeping pace with those,” Thrun says.</p><p>An example she gives is the challenge it was to make the systemic change on medication reconciliation when a resident moved from the hospital to the nursing home. “We worked with the hospital to change the process and reduce errors tied to these transitions of care and created a pharmacy position that just does admission reviews for new patients coming in,” she says. </p><p>The third achieving group says its journey to Gold began 18 years ago, according to Gail Cushing, RN, executive director, Applewood Center, Winchester, N.H.</p><p>“It has been a long journey for sure, but we continued to forge on throughout the time, but it did not prevent us from getting to where we wanted to go,” she says.</p><p>The greatest thing about the Gold process, Cushing says, is that it gave Applewood Center and its staff new skill sets to be able to adapt to new demands. “We can take new problems and adapt very quickly. An example is with COVID-19; I have said handling the pandemic was made more manageable because we went through a dress rehearsal with the Gold awards.”</p><p>For her, the award application has taught her and her people to communicate better, get feedback, educate, teach, and fix pitfalls. One example is that during the pandemic, her staff came up with a way to clean their goggles when there was no water source in an area where people were working.</p><p>“The whole Gold process is a concept really that provides a facility with new means to achieve success, and the more you practice, the better you become and the more ingrained it all becomes,” Cushing says.</p><p>Katie Frederick, administrator, Heritage of Bel-Air, Norfolk, Neb., started out talking about the end game of achieving Gold, which was the joy she, her 160-strong staff, and residents felt at accomplishing so much. Even though the pandemic has made a true celebration difficult, she says the pride all in the community feel about making Gold is real.</p><p>For her, making changes to be more efficient and better at evaluating results and outcomes is the lasting impact going through the award process will have. </p><p>“Evaluating and learning is what this has all been about. And, really getting better at communicating, listening to each other, and putting ideas into practice. That has all worked for us,” Frederick says.</p><p>Looking ahead to 2021, AHCA/NCAL said the deadline to submit an Intent to Apply for a 2021 National Quality Award is Nov. 12 by 8 p.m. (ET). For more information, visit the Quality Award <a href="https://www.ahcancal.org/Quality/National-Quality-Award-Program/Pages/default.aspx">website</a>.</p>	2020-10-21T04:00:00Z	<img alt="" src="/Breaking-News/PublishingImages/740%20x%20740/0220_News2.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" />	Quality Awards	Patrick Connole	All Quality Award recipients are being honored Oct. 22 at the association’s 70th Virtual Convention & Expo going on this month and live on Thursday the 22nd.
Occupancy Will Evolve as Owners, Operators Look for Recovery, Says NIC Expert	<p><em>Below is the first of a two-part interview. Keep your eyes out for the second part coming to you next week in another Provider News Alert.</em></p><p><em>Provider </em>posed a series of questions to Beth Burnham Mace, chief economist and director of outreach at the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care (NIC), on issues tied to the COVID-19 pandemic and occupancy levels across the seniors housing sector.</p><p><em>Provider</em>: What is the current trend for occupancy, and which of the market segments is showing the most negative impact from the pandemic?</p><p>Mace: The distinction between nursing care/skilled nursing and seniors housing is especially important to consider in discussing occupancy performance because the frailest elderly are often patients of skilled nursing’s higher acuity setting with around-the-clock nursing attention. And, it has been these elderly patients with significant pre-existing conditions that have seen the highest rates of COVID-19 incidence and fatalities.</p><p>Partially as a result, according to data from the NIC MAP® Data Service, the occupancy rate for skilled nursing properties fell more than other segment types with a 6.5 percentage point decline from the first quarter to 80.2 percent in the second quarter of 2020.</p><p>This was significantly more than the 2.8 percentage point drop in seniors housing properties to 84.9 percent, and, when the aggregated seniors housing category is broken down into its subcategories, there was a 3.2 percentage point decline seen in assisted living properties to 82.1 percent and a 2.4 percentage point decline in independent living properties to 87.4 percent from the first to second quarters.</p><p>This placed the occupancy rate for assisted living at its lowest level since NIC began reporting the data in late 2005. In general, residents in independent living tend to be healthier than those in assisted living and nursing care, and hence the lesser decline.</p><p>NIC MAP’s Intra-Quarterly data show further declines in occupancy beyond the second quarter. In the August report period, defined as the three-month rolling average June, July, and August, the assisted living occupancy rate was 79.5 percent, independent living was 85.6 percent, and nursing care was 76.5 percent.</p><p><em>Provider</em>: A big if, but if the pandemic is under control and vaccines available to all, what do you expect the occupancy outlook to be once this terrible time abates?</p><p>Mace: As you point out, the pandemic holds the cards. At this point, the outlook for the sector is tied to the path of the pandemic, its infection and penetration rate within properties, and the impact of the pandemic on broad economic growth. The seniors housing and nursing care industry as well as the broader national economy will be negatively affected by the COVID-19 virus until a vaccine is available and widely distributed. And, whenever that happens, I do not believe that we will go back to business-as-usual (BAU).</p><p><em>Provider</em>: What do you mean by not going back to BAU?</p><p>Mace: The new normal will not revert to the old normal, and the new normal is here now and will continue to evolve. Flexibility, responsiveness, and readiness are new standards for successful operators.</p><p>To answer your question directly, I believe that there is a transformational change in the seniors housing and care industry and that the change will continue to evolve. Occupancy will eventually return to pre-pandemic levels, but the industry will be changed.</p><p><em>Provider</em>: And, we have the demographics to consider?</p><p>Mace: Yes, more broadly, the underlying fundamentals and drivers of seniors housing remain in place. First, the demographics alone support the growing need for care and housing for seniors. Today, there are seven adult children aged 45 to 64 to care for every senior over the age of 80. By 2030, this ratio shrinks to 4:1, and, by 2050, it becomes 3:1. Fewer caregivers suggest that community-based congregate settings will be needed more than ever.</p><p>Second, with nearly two of every three properties built before 2000, the inventory of seniors housing properties is relatively old, and often a property refresh is needed for design, functionality, and efficiency. And, as obsolescence increases, new supply is needed at least in some markets. Moreover, COVID may have accelerated obsolescence, as building design is moving front and center for improved safety and health outcomes.</p><p>Third, seniors housing is increasingly recognized as a critical part of the solution for population health management and health care cost containment—a growing social, economic, and political reality.</p><p><em>Provider</em>: Any other factors in play for occupancy recovery and trends post-pandemic?</p><p>Mace: The need for care and housing is especially acute for middle-income seniors. NIC’s Forgotten Middle study highlights that point, with only 46 percent of middle-income seniors capable of affording seniors housing and care by 2029. It’s likely that, as a result of the pandemic and the secondary impact it has had on the economy, more Americans than ever will slip into the Forgotten Middle-income cohort, making the need for affordable care and housing ever more pressing.<br></p>	2020-10-20T04:00:00Z	<img alt="" src="/Breaking-News/PublishingImages/740%20x%20740/0920_News1.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" />	COVID-19	Patrick Connole	Provider poses a series of questions to NIC’s Beth Burnham Mace on issues tied to the COVID-19 pandemic and occupancy levels across the seniors housing sector.
New COVID Case Surge Threatens Third Spike in Nursing Homes	<p>The American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) released a <a href="http://links.ahca.org/u/click?_t=3abc5280edfa42b5905fbea7c0fff5c2&_m=825c32e00a6849deb758cad61092883a&_e=3Q4r57x7cGV75Z4jG0ly0qGS6wQ0Y8QBAuKZbrseFT19BZuT1GF3G4nsVE105pHyaXF-_KT2VkJ7gHr6IAohLYd_TH-DTn-Tp0hSQx8sUQ-UGs7KL_bTYamXAIVKEzHnDNroym7fiXmwco_iAlPGGR6K8u8UWXn4_hCZ8PoNUchhO_CdduBDVTNUL28-w8gvB7gWsTzH3u-j4RAQlBgSdbdd_y4gANw9v0sd4D3JD9JPZsSmgGDIZmP2mtsCB3HrbhJNQ2X9G0WXXlDMt9if7aNDns5z4we5LqS-csw1c3BtJkUUY1PPKYurrpQ50eafz8aVH59vImxthymwsmUx3H8BC3SR9QnCg41Gk4GM6d03J2d8GHJ7vKXkyIZkcguYLonQYXATZfbg6fO86LSPAQ%3D%3D" target="_blank">report</a> showing nursing homes could see a third spike of increasing new COVID-19 cases due to the community spread among the general population.<br> </p><p>Recent data released by John Hopkins and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) show that with the recent rise in new COVID cases in the general U.S. population, weekly nursing home cases rose in late September for the first time in seven weeks after new cases dropped significantly throughout August and early September.</p><p><span><img src="/Breaking-News/PublishingImages/1020/CommunitySpread.png" alt="Community spread is linked to cases in nursing homes." class="ms-rtePosition-5" style="margin:5px;" /></span> </p><p>According to John Hopkins, COVID cases in the general U.S. population rose by 62,139 cases per week in late September, correlating with an uptick in nursing home cases during the week of Sept. 27.</p><p>As <a href="http://links.ahca.org/u/click?_t=3abc5280edfa42b5905fbea7c0fff5c2&_m=825c32e00a6849deb758cad61092883a&_e=3Q4r57x7cGV75Z4jG0ly0qGS6wQ0Y8QBAuKZbrseFT19BZuT1GF3G4nsVE105pHyaXF-_KT2VkJ7gHr6IAohLYd_TH-DTn-Tp0hSQx8sUQ_hbusRDPGhl4jySPk4qu7JX0QBfnyCZynYRVsy2cpppHHFx9T8lJR3IHTmvHrH0gRHvAJkMMHhshfi82m1ANWlyMY0oby7M7U1xfk2tT7-AlpsWWxZPUe_oIfABcvMUtn5RfNhOnO4dACwJHHHwvoqi_JYy6SutBGGVKIBYvn6XNdWA4efmNTHLr4b8gBikFdt7TsoKPYg6Rg4ktihtEGO6XE9rHPB2_Q3EQQQOqdd8Vlr8QvXYK741-bcc6HK7k8C9qm-uNxyaTA85pb3TQRV7SrPqSUIhruH8KYffqFwJw%3D%3D" target="_blank">experts</a> have repeatedly noted, COVID-19 cases in a surrounding community are a top factor in outbreaks in nursing homes. David Grabowski, MD, professor of Health Care Policy, Harvard Medical School, recently <a href="http://links.ahca.org/u/click?_t=3abc5280edfa42b5905fbea7c0fff5c2&_m=825c32e00a6849deb758cad61092883a&_e=3Q4r57x7cGV75Z4jG0ly0gI4rz5qIuHkZwmyAD-ra7bAS7C72ncCgVS37mqctp4YBz4rlm548bKgpES7JK778u-geVZcyD-jlEg5w48zODolFBId1IG598tH7dt9-8xvivAMslP7iSrDWZZzUnvrQnVkA35EBTtGHbZVW9c-TehPR_InDQ7YdV4hYxVsmp7_CE2HjUpZyGdW8U-y1lM86q4NmMw2B2C-3ebYRmclaIP6UClCDdfopxZuiepsNHAIAzCMNUSTMm3ZPFVX22eRGJkqHneCauxYV_eVSZDoF3TY3JvYjJMzeE1VMi3aKEGPc71bXjNHeyGrmbfFy9zK0n6OxZIEZ01MAMaxs9GAMcTLoZrvThncGEMZItwTwYyU_PEeDhlmOwdjLw8MOOf_OysP6j3wire4oNtE35LMgEWTFBjVtx9wdr1izp_jQqJ4ObUvrFLBPlV_MR3i-9fjDg%3D%3D" target="_blank">said</a>, “The strongest predictor of whether or not we’ll see cases in [a particular setting] is community spread.”<br> </p><p>“The No. 1 factor in keeping COVID out of our nursing homes, so we can protect our vulnerable population is reducing the level of the virus in the surrounding community,” said Mark Parkinson, president and chief executive officer of AHCA/NCAL. </p><p>“While the support we have received from Congress, the administration, and other public health agencies have helped our facilities fight this battle, we could still see another wave of COVID cases caused by the sheer volume of rising cases in communities across the U.S. given the asymptomatic and presymptomatic spread of this virus.”<br> </p><p><span><img src="/Breaking-News/PublishingImages/1020/Confirmed.png" class="ms-rtePosition-5" alt="Confirmed COVID cases in U.S. nursing homes." style="margin:15px 5px;" /><br></span></p><p><span></span>The report showed new COVID cases in nursing homes had declined significantly from 10,125 cases the week of July 26 —when the country experienced a growing number of cases in the <a href="http://links.ahca.org/u/click?_t=3abc5280edfa42b5905fbea7c0fff5c2&_m=825c32e00a6849deb758cad61092883a&_e=3Q4r57x7cGV75Z4jG0ly0qGS6wQ0Y8QBAuKZbrseFT19BZuT1GF3G4nsVE105pHyC0faQN2ZBLWEwxI8HD-eLRuLNPMjnep1xUsKIy6-fFDFcbQ1z72oVoCQYCUgjdIDw7vyUXgxH_tEMFdnf9GEkUGnK-6CEGd-zDdqASPVTFmJ70mm9z-7ZmmQ5SHgIQRPiB2XJ187NpfUdkgwBbVcvq3IIe06Hu6xHyNUaaW1vANyP34Jlo41ydqhvSeP_2M1na8BAiqtTry7yaWYUqw4l-P-FXPFlEF2_rNWunbITuQpmn5z_1LDpYzXdlaXrmObTJizEtq76zjMkLBu41Qf9VW01z4FzxDKR-a_1GIblQ5-3jKLkgqUytdyOq8zVk6XJiDbBqHJMHzfNuNLtC2vQvVxi1TKSafRCK2L72JOQn8%3D" target="_blank">Sun Belt states</a>—but saw an uptick in new cases in the final week of September. </p><p>The report also showed COVID-related deaths in nursing homes had declined significantly, but industry leaders remain concerned about the recent uptick in new COVID cases in facilities.</p><p>With new COVID cases now rising in the general population of 38 states, Parkinson said now more than ever Congress needs to end the partisan logjam and prioritize frontline health care workers and residents, particularly vulnerable elderly populations.<br> </p><p>Most of the $175 billion Provider Relief Fund provided by the CARES Act back in April has already been distributed, and Parkinson said health care providers, including long term care facilities, will need additional funds to continue its response to the COVID pandemic heading into the cold and flu season, which provides new challenges.<br> </p><p><img src="/Breaking-News/PublishingImages/1020/CovidDeaths.png" alt="COVID related deaths in U.S. nursing homes." style="margin:5px;" /> </p><p>“Without replenishing funds for federal and state agencies, health care facilities, including nursing homes and assisted living communities, could find themselves less than completely prepared for the challenges of the upcoming winter season, which could inevitably result in an uptick in new COVID cases,” Parkinson said. </p><p>“Without adequate funding and resources, the U.S. will repeat the same mistakes made during the initial outbreak last spring and the major spike over the summer. We need Congress to prioritize our vulnerable seniors and their caregivers in nursing homes and assisted living communities, by passing another COVID funding package before they leave town for the elections.”</p><p></p>	2020-10-20T04:00:00Z	<img alt="" src="/Breaking-News/PublishingImages/740%20x%20740/0820_News1.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" />	COVID-19	Patrick Connole	AHCA releases a report showing nursing homes could be heading for a third spike of new COVID cases due to community spread in general population.
Association Unveils COVID-Related OSHA Respiratory Protection Plan Template	<p>In a series of updates on COVID-19 pandemic matters for long term and post-acute care providers, the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) said it now has an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Respiratory Protection Plan Template.</p><p>“Providers should note that if respirators are being used (such as N95s) you must have a Respiratory Protection Program in place to comply with OSHA standards. OSHA has fined long term care providers for not having the protection plan in place during the COVID-19 pandemic,” AHCA/NCAL said.</p><p>The template is designed to be reviewed and tailored by each individual facility. Facilities should review the <a href="https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1910/1910.134">Respiratory Protection Standard (29.C.F.R. 1910.134). </a>And, the association noted that OSHA has also issued frequently asked questions regarding COVID-19 reporting obligations.</p><p>Read more on the issue at <a href="https://www.ahcancal.org/News-and-Communications/Blog/Pages/New-OSHA-Guidance-for-COVID-19-and-AHCANCAL-OSHA-Resources.aspx">https://www.ahcancal.org/News-and-Communications/Blog/Pages/New-OSHA-Guidance-for-COVID-19-and-AHCANCAL-OSHA-Resources.aspx</a>.</p><p>In other developments, AHCA/NCAL said the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released updated Medicare Accelerated and Advance Payment guidance based on the recently enacted Continuing Appropriations Act, 2021 and Other Extensions Act. Read more at <a href="https://www.ahcancal.org/News-and-Communications/Blog/Pages/CMS-Releases-Medicare-Accelerated-and-Advance-Payment-Guidance.aspx">https://www.ahcancal.org/News-and-Communications/Blog/Pages/CMS-Releases-Medicare-Accelerated-and-Advance-Payment-Guidance.aspx</a>.</p><p>Also, AHCA/NCAL said it has updated the FAQs on Testing in Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Communities. These include information on the Abbott BinaxNOW shipments, further clarity on CMS testing requirements, and a new section on discordant results. Read more at <a href="https://www.ahcancal.org/News-and-Communications/Blog/Pages/Updated-Testing-Guidance-from-AHCANCAL.aspx">https://www.ahcancal.org/News-and-Communications/Blog/Pages/Updated-Testing-Guidance-from-AHCANCAL.aspx</a>.<br></p>	2020-10-16T04:00:00Z	<img alt="" src="/Breaking-News/PublishingImages/740%20x%20740/architecture_5.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" />	Policy	Patrick Connole	If respirators such as N95s are being used, providers must have a Respiratory Protection Program in place to comply with OSHA standards, AHCA/NCAL says.

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AHCA, NCAL Gold Quality Award Achievers Talk Strategy, Sacrifice	<blockquote><h4><span class="ms-rteThemeForeColor-6-4 ms-rteFontSize-2">National Quality Awards Ceremony </span></h4><h4><span class="ms-rteThemeForeColor-6-4 ms-rteFontSize-2"><strong>Don’t miss the Live National Quality Awards Ceremony, which begins at 2:00 p.m. ET Thursday, Oct. 22, in the General Session and Special Events Theater in conjunction with AHCA/NCAL’s 70th Virtual Convention & Expo. </strong></span></h4><h4><span class="ms-rteThemeForeColor-6-4 ms-rteFontSize-2"><strong>All 719 Bronze, 147 Silver, and 4 Gold recipients will be honored. Attendees are invited to join in the chat function to share congratulatory messages and shout out to other 2020 recipients. </strong></span></h4><h4><span class="ms-rteThemeForeColor-6-4"><strong class="ms-rteFontSize-2"> Registration for the convention closes Friday, Oct. 23. Not signed up?</strong><span class="ms-rteFontSize-2"> </span><a href="https://www.eventscribe.com/2020/AHCANCAL/aaStatic.asp?SFP=WURZVUdSWVlAMzk3NA%29"><strong class="ms-rteThemeForeColor-6-4 ms-rteFontSize-2">Register now.</strong></a> </span></h4></blockquote><p></p> <style> p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin:0in; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif; } a:link, span.MsoHyperlink { color:#0563C1; text-decoration:underline; } span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed { color:#954F72; text-decoration:underline; } .MsoChpDefault { font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif; } .MsoPapDefault { margin-bottom:8.0pt; line-height:107%; } div.WordSection1 { } </style> <p>A quartet of providers has received the preeminent Gold National Quality Award designation from the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) for 2020 and is being honored for their achievement during the association’s annual convention that runs on a virtual basis through the month of October.</p><p>Jane Martin, RN, director of nursing, Treutlen Health and Rehabilitation, Soperton, Ga., says for her 50-bed facility in rural Georgia the latest attempt to achieve Gold started five years back when the organization earned Bronze from AHCA/NCAL, then Silver in 2017.</p><p>“That is when we decided to go for the Gold,” she says. “We [earned] a site visit last year and then this year got the Gold award.”</p><p>Going for the top honor and going for the Bronze or Silver are worlds apart, Martin notes. “The Gold is so much different, and you really need to dedicate time to it.” This work includes copious writing down to report quality-based outcomes for residents, since getting positive results is what the award process is all about, she says.</p><p>“Probably the most difficult things is collecting the data. Everything has a different measurement time frame, so I really rely on LTC Trend Tracker [from AHCA/NCAL], NursingHome Compare…You need to know all of these data today on a regular basis.”</p><p>Once all the hard work resulted in the Gold, Martin says sharing the good news, in a COVID-sensitive manner, was a great feeling for staff and residents alike.</p><p>“We were in a huge open area when we told them, and it was a lot of yelling through masks,” she says. “It was kind of sad that we could not hug or have family there, but we did our best.”</p><p>As for what she would tell fellow providers about the award program, Martin says facilities should do it; even though it is not easy, it is well worth it. “We all learned so much through the process, and there were so many little things along the way, it has changed the way we live and work here.”</p><p>Kristin Thrun, administrator, Burgess Square Healthcare and Rehab Centre, Westmont, Ill., says her nursing home got into the quality award world because back in 2012 when accountable care organizations and other value-based care entities emerged in her area, it became imperative for her facility to set itself apart.</p><p>“The focus became even more pronounced on overall performance outcomes and quality measures, and becoming part of the AHCA award process helped us to do this in a systematic way,” she says.</p><p>After receiving some local awards for their work with residents, the facility earned Bronze from AHCA/NCAL in 2017 and then eyed going for Gold after that. </p><p>“I think the biggest challenge is continuing to push forward in terms of meeting the criteria and putting our programs in place and sustaining them despite the external challenges brought on by things like changes in payment models [person-directed payment model] and keeping pace with those,” Thrun says.</p><p>An example she gives is the challenge it was to make the systemic change on medication reconciliation when a resident moved from the hospital to the nursing home. “We worked with the hospital to change the process and reduce errors tied to these transitions of care and created a pharmacy position that just does admission reviews for new patients coming in,” she says. </p><p>The third achieving group says its journey to Gold began 18 years ago, according to Gail Cushing, RN, executive director, Applewood Center, Winchester, N.H.</p><p>“It has been a long journey for sure, but we continued to forge on throughout the time, but it did not prevent us from getting to where we wanted to go,” she says.</p><p>The greatest thing about the Gold process, Cushing says, is that it gave Applewood Center and its staff new skill sets to be able to adapt to new demands. “We can take new problems and adapt very quickly. An example is with COVID-19; I have said handling the pandemic was made more manageable because we went through a dress rehearsal with the Gold awards.”</p><p>For her, the award application has taught her and her people to communicate better, get feedback, educate, teach, and fix pitfalls. One example is that during the pandemic, her staff came up with a way to clean their goggles when there was no water source in an area where people were working.</p><p>“The whole Gold process is a concept really that provides a facility with new means to achieve success, and the more you practice, the better you become and the more ingrained it all becomes,” Cushing says.</p><p>Katie Frederick, administrator, Heritage of Bel-Air, Norfolk, Neb., started out talking about the end game of achieving Gold, which was the joy she, her 160-strong staff, and residents felt at accomplishing so much. Even though the pandemic has made a true celebration difficult, she says the pride all in the community feel about making Gold is real.</p><p>For her, making changes to be more efficient and better at evaluating results and outcomes is the lasting impact going through the award process will have. </p><p>“Evaluating and learning is what this has all been about. And, really getting better at communicating, listening to each other, and putting ideas into practice. That has all worked for us,” Frederick says.</p><p>Looking ahead to 2021, AHCA/NCAL said the deadline to submit an Intent to Apply for a 2021 National Quality Award is Nov. 12 by 8 p.m. (ET). For more information, visit the Quality Award <a href="https://www.ahcancal.org/Quality/National-Quality-Award-Program/Pages/default.aspx">website</a>.</p>	2020-10-21T04:00:00Z	<img alt="" src="/Breaking-News/PublishingImages/740%20x%20740/0220_News2.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" />	Quality Awards	All Quality Award recipients are being honored Oct. 22 at the association’s 70th Virtual Convention & Expo going on this month and live on Thursday the 22nd.
Occupancy Will Evolve as Owners, Operators Look for Recovery, Says NIC Expert	<p><em>Below is the first of a two-part interview. Keep your eyes out for the second part coming to you next week in another Provider News Alert.</em></p><p><em>Provider </em>posed a series of questions to Beth Burnham Mace, chief economist and director of outreach at the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care (NIC), on issues tied to the COVID-19 pandemic and occupancy levels across the seniors housing sector.</p><p><em>Provider</em>: What is the current trend for occupancy, and which of the market segments is showing the most negative impact from the pandemic?</p><p>Mace: The distinction between nursing care/skilled nursing and seniors housing is especially important to consider in discussing occupancy performance because the frailest elderly are often patients of skilled nursing’s higher acuity setting with around-the-clock nursing attention. And, it has been these elderly patients with significant pre-existing conditions that have seen the highest rates of COVID-19 incidence and fatalities.</p><p>Partially as a result, according to data from the NIC MAP® Data Service, the occupancy rate for skilled nursing properties fell more than other segment types with a 6.5 percentage point decline from the first quarter to 80.2 percent in the second quarter of 2020.</p><p>This was significantly more than the 2.8 percentage point drop in seniors housing properties to 84.9 percent, and, when the aggregated seniors housing category is broken down into its subcategories, there was a 3.2 percentage point decline seen in assisted living properties to 82.1 percent and a 2.4 percentage point decline in independent living properties to 87.4 percent from the first to second quarters.</p><p>This placed the occupancy rate for assisted living at its lowest level since NIC began reporting the data in late 2005. In general, residents in independent living tend to be healthier than those in assisted living and nursing care, and hence the lesser decline.</p><p>NIC MAP’s Intra-Quarterly data show further declines in occupancy beyond the second quarter. In the August report period, defined as the three-month rolling average June, July, and August, the assisted living occupancy rate was 79.5 percent, independent living was 85.6 percent, and nursing care was 76.5 percent.</p><p><em>Provider</em>: A big if, but if the pandemic is under control and vaccines available to all, what do you expect the occupancy outlook to be once this terrible time abates?</p><p>Mace: As you point out, the pandemic holds the cards. At this point, the outlook for the sector is tied to the path of the pandemic, its infection and penetration rate within properties, and the impact of the pandemic on broad economic growth. The seniors housing and nursing care industry as well as the broader national economy will be negatively affected by the COVID-19 virus until a vaccine is available and widely distributed. And, whenever that happens, I do not believe that we will go back to business-as-usual (BAU).</p><p><em>Provider</em>: What do you mean by not going back to BAU?</p><p>Mace: The new normal will not revert to the old normal, and the new normal is here now and will continue to evolve. Flexibility, responsiveness, and readiness are new standards for successful operators.</p><p>To answer your question directly, I believe that there is a transformational change in the seniors housing and care industry and that the change will continue to evolve. Occupancy will eventually return to pre-pandemic levels, but the industry will be changed.</p><p><em>Provider</em>: And, we have the demographics to consider?</p><p>Mace: Yes, more broadly, the underlying fundamentals and drivers of seniors housing remain in place. First, the demographics alone support the growing need for care and housing for seniors. Today, there are seven adult children aged 45 to 64 to care for every senior over the age of 80. By 2030, this ratio shrinks to 4:1, and, by 2050, it becomes 3:1. Fewer caregivers suggest that community-based congregate settings will be needed more than ever.</p><p>Second, with nearly two of every three properties built before 2000, the inventory of seniors housing properties is relatively old, and often a property refresh is needed for design, functionality, and efficiency. And, as obsolescence increases, new supply is needed at least in some markets. Moreover, COVID may have accelerated obsolescence, as building design is moving front and center for improved safety and health outcomes.</p><p>Third, seniors housing is increasingly recognized as a critical part of the solution for population health management and health care cost containment—a growing social, economic, and political reality.</p><p><em>Provider</em>: Any other factors in play for occupancy recovery and trends post-pandemic?</p><p>Mace: The need for care and housing is especially acute for middle-income seniors. NIC’s Forgotten Middle study highlights that point, with only 46 percent of middle-income seniors capable of affording seniors housing and care by 2029. It’s likely that, as a result of the pandemic and the secondary impact it has had on the economy, more Americans than ever will slip into the Forgotten Middle-income cohort, making the need for affordable care and housing ever more pressing.<br></p>	2020-10-20T04:00:00Z	<img alt="" src="/Breaking-News/PublishingImages/740%20x%20740/0920_News1.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" />	COVID-19	Provider poses a series of questions to NIC’s Beth Burnham Mace on issues tied to the COVID-19 pandemic and occupancy levels across the seniors housing sector.
New COVID Case Surge Threatens Third Spike in Nursing Homes	<p>The American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) released a <a href="http://links.ahca.org/u/click?_t=3abc5280edfa42b5905fbea7c0fff5c2&_m=825c32e00a6849deb758cad61092883a&_e=3Q4r57x7cGV75Z4jG0ly0qGS6wQ0Y8QBAuKZbrseFT19BZuT1GF3G4nsVE105pHyaXF-_KT2VkJ7gHr6IAohLYd_TH-DTn-Tp0hSQx8sUQ-UGs7KL_bTYamXAIVKEzHnDNroym7fiXmwco_iAlPGGR6K8u8UWXn4_hCZ8PoNUchhO_CdduBDVTNUL28-w8gvB7gWsTzH3u-j4RAQlBgSdbdd_y4gANw9v0sd4D3JD9JPZsSmgGDIZmP2mtsCB3HrbhJNQ2X9G0WXXlDMt9if7aNDns5z4we5LqS-csw1c3BtJkUUY1PPKYurrpQ50eafz8aVH59vImxthymwsmUx3H8BC3SR9QnCg41Gk4GM6d03J2d8GHJ7vKXkyIZkcguYLonQYXATZfbg6fO86LSPAQ%3D%3D" target="_blank">report</a> showing nursing homes could see a third spike of increasing new COVID-19 cases due to the community spread among the general population.<br> </p><p>Recent data released by John Hopkins and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) show that with the recent rise in new COVID cases in the general U.S. population, weekly nursing home cases rose in late September for the first time in seven weeks after new cases dropped significantly throughout August and early September.</p><p><span><img src="/Breaking-News/PublishingImages/1020/CommunitySpread.png" alt="Community spread is linked to cases in nursing homes." class="ms-rtePosition-5" style="margin:5px;" /></span> </p><p>According to John Hopkins, COVID cases in the general U.S. population rose by 62,139 cases per week in late September, correlating with an uptick in nursing home cases during the week of Sept. 27.</p><p>As <a href="http://links.ahca.org/u/click?_t=3abc5280edfa42b5905fbea7c0fff5c2&_m=825c32e00a6849deb758cad61092883a&_e=3Q4r57x7cGV75Z4jG0ly0qGS6wQ0Y8QBAuKZbrseFT19BZuT1GF3G4nsVE105pHyaXF-_KT2VkJ7gHr6IAohLYd_TH-DTn-Tp0hSQx8sUQ_hbusRDPGhl4jySPk4qu7JX0QBfnyCZynYRVsy2cpppHHFx9T8lJR3IHTmvHrH0gRHvAJkMMHhshfi82m1ANWlyMY0oby7M7U1xfk2tT7-AlpsWWxZPUe_oIfABcvMUtn5RfNhOnO4dACwJHHHwvoqi_JYy6SutBGGVKIBYvn6XNdWA4efmNTHLr4b8gBikFdt7TsoKPYg6Rg4ktihtEGO6XE9rHPB2_Q3EQQQOqdd8Vlr8QvXYK741-bcc6HK7k8C9qm-uNxyaTA85pb3TQRV7SrPqSUIhruH8KYffqFwJw%3D%3D" target="_blank">experts</a> have repeatedly noted, COVID-19 cases in a surrounding community are a top factor in outbreaks in nursing homes. David Grabowski, MD, professor of Health Care Policy, Harvard Medical School, recently <a href="http://links.ahca.org/u/click?_t=3abc5280edfa42b5905fbea7c0fff5c2&_m=825c32e00a6849deb758cad61092883a&_e=3Q4r57x7cGV75Z4jG0ly0gI4rz5qIuHkZwmyAD-ra7bAS7C72ncCgVS37mqctp4YBz4rlm548bKgpES7JK778u-geVZcyD-jlEg5w48zODolFBId1IG598tH7dt9-8xvivAMslP7iSrDWZZzUnvrQnVkA35EBTtGHbZVW9c-TehPR_InDQ7YdV4hYxVsmp7_CE2HjUpZyGdW8U-y1lM86q4NmMw2B2C-3ebYRmclaIP6UClCDdfopxZuiepsNHAIAzCMNUSTMm3ZPFVX22eRGJkqHneCauxYV_eVSZDoF3TY3JvYjJMzeE1VMi3aKEGPc71bXjNHeyGrmbfFy9zK0n6OxZIEZ01MAMaxs9GAMcTLoZrvThncGEMZItwTwYyU_PEeDhlmOwdjLw8MOOf_OysP6j3wire4oNtE35LMgEWTFBjVtx9wdr1izp_jQqJ4ObUvrFLBPlV_MR3i-9fjDg%3D%3D" target="_blank">said</a>, “The strongest predictor of whether or not we’ll see cases in [a particular setting] is community spread.”<br> </p><p>“The No. 1 factor in keeping COVID out of our nursing homes, so we can protect our vulnerable population is reducing the level of the virus in the surrounding community,” said Mark Parkinson, president and chief executive officer of AHCA/NCAL. </p><p>“While the support we have received from Congress, the administration, and other public health agencies have helped our facilities fight this battle, we could still see another wave of COVID cases caused by the sheer volume of rising cases in communities across the U.S. given the asymptomatic and presymptomatic spread of this virus.”<br> </p><p><span><img src="/Breaking-News/PublishingImages/1020/Confirmed.png" class="ms-rtePosition-5" alt="Confirmed COVID cases in U.S. nursing homes." style="margin:15px 5px;" /><br></span></p><p><span></span>The report showed new COVID cases in nursing homes had declined significantly from 10,125 cases the week of July 26 —when the country experienced a growing number of cases in the <a href="http://links.ahca.org/u/click?_t=3abc5280edfa42b5905fbea7c0fff5c2&_m=825c32e00a6849deb758cad61092883a&_e=3Q4r57x7cGV75Z4jG0ly0qGS6wQ0Y8QBAuKZbrseFT19BZuT1GF3G4nsVE105pHyC0faQN2ZBLWEwxI8HD-eLRuLNPMjnep1xUsKIy6-fFDFcbQ1z72oVoCQYCUgjdIDw7vyUXgxH_tEMFdnf9GEkUGnK-6CEGd-zDdqASPVTFmJ70mm9z-7ZmmQ5SHgIQRPiB2XJ187NpfUdkgwBbVcvq3IIe06Hu6xHyNUaaW1vANyP34Jlo41ydqhvSeP_2M1na8BAiqtTry7yaWYUqw4l-P-FXPFlEF2_rNWunbITuQpmn5z_1LDpYzXdlaXrmObTJizEtq76zjMkLBu41Qf9VW01z4FzxDKR-a_1GIblQ5-3jKLkgqUytdyOq8zVk6XJiDbBqHJMHzfNuNLtC2vQvVxi1TKSafRCK2L72JOQn8%3D" target="_blank">Sun Belt states</a>—but saw an uptick in new cases in the final week of September. </p><p>The report also showed COVID-related deaths in nursing homes had declined significantly, but industry leaders remain concerned about the recent uptick in new COVID cases in facilities.</p><p>With new COVID cases now rising in the general population of 38 states, Parkinson said now more than ever Congress needs to end the partisan logjam and prioritize frontline health care workers and residents, particularly vulnerable elderly populations.<br> </p><p>Most of the $175 billion Provider Relief Fund provided by the CARES Act back in April has already been distributed, and Parkinson said health care providers, including long term care facilities, will need additional funds to continue its response to the COVID pandemic heading into the cold and flu season, which provides new challenges.<br> </p><p><img src="/Breaking-News/PublishingImages/1020/CovidDeaths.png" alt="COVID related deaths in U.S. nursing homes." style="margin:5px;" /> </p><p>“Without replenishing funds for federal and state agencies, health care facilities, including nursing homes and assisted living communities, could find themselves less than completely prepared for the challenges of the upcoming winter season, which could inevitably result in an uptick in new COVID cases,” Parkinson said. </p><p>“Without adequate funding and resources, the U.S. will repeat the same mistakes made during the initial outbreak last spring and the major spike over the summer. We need Congress to prioritize our vulnerable seniors and their caregivers in nursing homes and assisted living communities, by passing another COVID funding package before they leave town for the elections.”</p><p></p>	2020-10-20T04:00:00Z	<img alt="" src="/Breaking-News/PublishingImages/740%20x%20740/0820_News1.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" />	COVID-19	AHCA releases a report showing nursing homes could be heading for a third spike of new COVID cases due to community spread in general population.
Association Unveils COVID-Related OSHA Respiratory Protection Plan Template	<p>In a series of updates on COVID-19 pandemic matters for long term and post-acute care providers, the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) said it now has an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Respiratory Protection Plan Template.</p><p>“Providers should note that if respirators are being used (such as N95s) you must have a Respiratory Protection Program in place to comply with OSHA standards. OSHA has fined long term care providers for not having the protection plan in place during the COVID-19 pandemic,” AHCA/NCAL said.</p><p>The template is designed to be reviewed and tailored by each individual facility. Facilities should review the <a href="https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1910/1910.134">Respiratory Protection Standard (29.C.F.R. 1910.134). </a>And, the association noted that OSHA has also issued frequently asked questions regarding COVID-19 reporting obligations.</p><p>Read more on the issue at <a href="https://www.ahcancal.org/News-and-Communications/Blog/Pages/New-OSHA-Guidance-for-COVID-19-and-AHCANCAL-OSHA-Resources.aspx">https://www.ahcancal.org/News-and-Communications/Blog/Pages/New-OSHA-Guidance-for-COVID-19-and-AHCANCAL-OSHA-Resources.aspx</a>.</p><p>In other developments, AHCA/NCAL said the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released updated Medicare Accelerated and Advance Payment guidance based on the recently enacted Continuing Appropriations Act, 2021 and Other Extensions Act. Read more at <a href="https://www.ahcancal.org/News-and-Communications/Blog/Pages/CMS-Releases-Medicare-Accelerated-and-Advance-Payment-Guidance.aspx">https://www.ahcancal.org/News-and-Communications/Blog/Pages/CMS-Releases-Medicare-Accelerated-and-Advance-Payment-Guidance.aspx</a>.</p><p>Also, AHCA/NCAL said it has updated the FAQs on Testing in Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Communities. These include information on the Abbott BinaxNOW shipments, further clarity on CMS testing requirements, and a new section on discordant results. Read more at <a href="https://www.ahcancal.org/News-and-Communications/Blog/Pages/Updated-Testing-Guidance-from-AHCANCAL.aspx">https://www.ahcancal.org/News-and-Communications/Blog/Pages/Updated-Testing-Guidance-from-AHCANCAL.aspx</a>.<br></p>	2020-10-16T04:00:00Z	<img alt="" src="/Breaking-News/PublishingImages/740%20x%20740/architecture_5.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" />	Policy	If respirators such as N95s are being used, providers must have a Respiratory Protection Program in place to comply with OSHA standards, AHCA/NCAL says.
COVID Only Halfway Over, Government Support Must Extend Into 2021, Parkinson Says	<p>Long term and post-acute care providers are tired and drained from their continuing battle against the still-raging COVID-19 pandemic, says Mark Parkinson, president and chief executive officer of the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL).</p><p>The battle against the virus is a marathon, he says, and only around one-half over, with next spring being the most logical time a vaccine can start to bring relief for residents, families, and caregivers who have been on the frontlines since March.</p><p>In a wide-ranging talk with Provider, the longtime association leader presented a no-nonsense assessment of where skilled nursing, assisted living, and other settings of care for the nation’s elderly and people with disabilities stand heading into the final months of a year that has marked thousands of residents dying from a virus that keeps challenging facilities even as most take every precaution to keep it out.</p><p>“I think that the unfortunate reality of the pandemic has been to expose that older people are not held in the same priority as younger people,” he says. “Older people are not held with the esteem that they should be, and so political decisions were made that led to the deaths of tens of thousands of people.”</p><p>“I think that we are about halfway through, maybe a little over halfway. I am optimistic that there will be a vaccine by the end of the year and that we [long term care] will be prioritized. Even with that it will take a couple of months for our staff and residents to be fully vaccinated.”</p><p>Providers Make Progress, But Public Limits Success<br>Parkinson says the way in which providers have learned to keep the infection out of facilities, and if not able, to treat those infected, has improved dramatically since the crisis started in March.</p><p>“Providers have gotten really good at taking care of people with COVID. We started with absolutely no knowledge of how to treat this virus, and they quickly demonstrated that given the proper PPE [personal protective equipment], therapeutics, and resources that they can get most people well,” he says.<br>“There have been hundreds of thousands of recoveries of residents in our buildings, and the success rate is growing all the time.”</p><p>The problem, however, is not limited to what happens inside nursing homes and assisted living communities. “Unfortunately, the public has proved to be completely incapable of social distancing and of wearing masks, so the incidence of COVID in the general population has not declined, and in fact in some parts of the country it continues to increase, which puts enormous stress on long term care facilities and makes containing the virus very hard,” Parkinson says.</p><p>He adds that he does not think the public is suddenly going to get more disciplined, and, therefore, for the next five or six months providers will continue to fight COVID before there is a vaccine.</p><p>“It is going to be just as challenging as it has been for the last six or seven months,” Parkinson says.</p><h3>Fatigue Has Set in</h3><p>The association leader says it is important to realize that these next months will be even harder because of the fatigue factor, born from the long days and nights logged by all involved in the battle.</p><p>“Providers are tired. Whether you are a frontline CNA or a CEO, all these folks have worked basically nonstop for the last seven months. And, fatigue has set in, and for them to be able to continue this fight for the next six months as I think will be required is going to be very, very tough for them,” Parkinson says.</p><p>As head of AHCA/NCAL, he thinks the most important thing the organization has done for the past seven months is being very effective at getting provider members the resources that they need. “The government relations team led by Clif Porter has been really effective in convincing Congress and HHS [Department of Health and Human Services] that our members need support, and the support has been provided.”</p><p>Parkinson says when combining the federal support with the state aid that has been provided, “we are probably well over $20 billion in relief that has been provided so far.” But the assistance cannot stop now as he says the continued challenge for the next six months is to keep Congress and HHS focused on “that continual need that providers have.”</p><h3>Money Issues Hit All</h3><p>Every provider, he notes, has been negatively affected in that they have had significant COVID in their buildings or if not then because census is down across the board.</p><p>Providers that have been hit hard by COVID have been able to stay afloat from the federal and state assistance, but if there is not more help in 2021 some people will be in real financial trouble. “So far the funds have been adequate, but the challenge right now is to keep them going in 2021,” Parkinson says.</p><p>“If we had not had federal funding that we have received so far there would have been hundreds of buildings that were already closed. That funding kept those buildings open, and similarly we need that continued funding in 2021 or hundreds of buildings will close.”</p><p>Who makes many of the high-level decisions could be impacted by the election results that occur on Nov. 3. Normally, Parkinson says the election outcome affects the profession in a very dramatic way, but in 2020 with the pandemic there has been bipartisan support for taking care of older people and supporting long term care.</p><p>“Regardless of the outcome of the election, we are going to get a good response for continuing assistance. The changes may be bigger on the regulatory side, as some may look at what has happened at nursing homes and look to overregulate or penalize more. Others who get elected want to be more collaborative [with the long term care sector]. We are hopeful members who get elected to Congress want to be collaborative,” he says. </p><h3>When Will Census Recover?</h3><p>Providers are also hopeful for a return of normal business in order to recover census and fill beds with people who need long term and post-acute care. Parkinson says the “when will we recover” question is the most important one.</p><p>“Census in nursing homes dropped about 10 percent very quickly in April and May and seemed to bottom out on June 1. But it has not gotten any better,” he says.</p><p>“For the sector to truly recover financially, census has to recover. My view is that once we have a vaccine, people will renew their confidence in our care setting, and there will be a slow recovery of census. It will not snap back immediately; it will be more like half a percent or 1 percent a month for a year or two, and then census will recover.”</p><p>Parkinson says he does not believe “we will have a permanently lower census as a result of the pandemic. Our services are necessary for people. The people who live in our buildings are just not capable of living at home, so once we get their confidence back, our census will recover, but it will take a year or two.”<br></p><p></p>	2020-10-16T04:00:00Z	<img alt="" src="/Breaking-News/PublishingImages/740%20x%20740/1120MarkParkinson.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" />	COVID-19	The battle against the virus is a marathon, he says, with next spring being the most logical time a vaccine can start to bring relief for residents, families, and caregivers.
CVS, Walgreens Tapped to Provide LTC Residents, Staff a COVID Vaccine Free of Charge	<p>The Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Defense on Friday said they have reached agreements with CVS and Walgreens to provide and administer COVID-19 vaccines to residents of long term care facilities across the country at no cost to consumers. </p><p>Called the Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care Program, the effort provides complete management of the COVID-19 vaccination process, HHS said. </p><p>“This means LTCF [long term care facility] residents and staff across the country will be able to safely and efficiently get vaccinated once vaccines are available and recommended for them, if they have not been previously vaccinated,” HHS said. “It will also minimize the burden on LTCF sites and jurisdictional health departments of vaccine handling, administration, and fulfilling reporting requirements.”   </p><p>The program is:<br>--Free of charge to facilities.<br>--Available for residents in all long term care settings, including nursing homes, assisted living communities, residential care homes, and adult family homes.<br>--Available to all remaining LTCF staff members who have not been previously vaccinated for COVID-19 (for example, through satellite, temporary, or off-site clinics).<br>--Available in most rural areas that may not have an easily accessible pharmacy.</p><p>CVS and Walgreens will schedule and coordinate on-site clinic date(s) directly with each facility. It is anticipated that three total visits over approximately two months are likely to be needed to administer both doses of vaccine (if indicated) to residents and staff, HHS said.</p><p>The pharmacies will also: <br>--Receive and manage vaccines and associated supplies (such as syringes, needles, and personal protective equipment).<br>--Ensure cold chain management for vaccine.<br>--Provide on-site administration of vaccine.<br>--Report required vaccination data (including who was vaccinated, with what vaccine, and where) to the state, local, or territorial and federal public health authorities within 72 hours of administering each dose.<br>--Adhere to all applicable Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) requirements for COVID-19 testing for LTCF staff.</p><p>Starting Oct. 19, LTCFs will be able to opt in and indicate which pharmacy partner their facility prefers to have on-site. LTCFs are not mandated to participate in this program and can request to use their current pharmacy contracts to support COVID-19 vaccination. Nursing homes can sign up via the National Healthcare Safety Network, and assisted living facilities can sign up via an online survey they will receive, HHS said.  </p><p>HHS said it would work with organizations like the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) to ensure success of this program. “Immunization with a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine is a critical component of our nation’s strategy to reduce COVID-19-related illness, hospitalizations, and deaths,” HHS said. “Early in the COVID-19 Vaccination Program, there may be a limited supply of COVID-19 vaccine, and vaccination efforts may focus on those critical to the response, those providing direct care, and those at highest risk for developing severe illness from COVID-19, including long term care facility residents.”</p><p>“We deeply appreciate the administration, CVS, and Walgreens for partnering together to prioritize the distribution of an imminent vaccine to our most vulnerable population,” said Mark Parkinson, AHCA/NCAL president and chief executive officer. “With millions residing in our nation’s long term care facilities, our providers stand ready to help facilitate this monumental endeavor.</p><p>“AHCA/NCAL urges all nursing homes, assisted living communities, and other congregate settings for older adults and individuals with disabilities to register for this program immediately and before the deadline,” he said.</p><p>After the vaccine announcement, AHCA/NCAL said, “We strongly encourage all long term care facilities to participate and register as soon as the portals open. This is critical to ensuring our vulnerable residents are among the first to receive a vaccine when it becomes available.”  </p><p>The association added that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is offering an overview and FAQs to help further explain the program, and AHCA/NCAL is also offering an overview. </p><p>To prepare, AHCA/NCAL encourages providers to review these materials, as well as: <br>--Compile the necessary information for the nursing home and assisted living portals to inform CDC about your resident population; and<br>--Register now for one of AHCA/NCAL’s “Office Hours” on ahcancalED. They have already secured multiple time slots over the next two weeks with CDC staff to help answer your questions about this vaccination program.<br> <br>“Check our emails and website early next week for the registration links and any additional information,” AHCA/NCAL said.</p><p>HHS noted that there are currently no COVID-19 vaccines that have been authorized or approved by the Food and Drug Administration and recommended by CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.  </p><p>However, the Pharmacy Partnership for Long-term Care Program is being established in anticipation that one or more COVID-19 vaccines will be available before the end of the year, HHS said.</p>	2020-10-16T04:00:00Z	<img alt="" src="/Breaking-News/PublishingImages/740%20x%20740/0620_News3.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" />	COVID-19	HHS and the Department of Defense say they have reached agreements with CVS and Walgreens to provide and administer COVID-19 vaccines to residents of long term care facilities across the country.
Association Staff Member Elected to National Board	<p>One of the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living’s (AHCA/NCAL’s) own will be representing the association’s quality efforts on a national scale. The board of the <a href="https://www.baldrigealliance.org/">Alliance for Performance Excellence</a>, which serves member programs and other organizations aiming to improve their performance using the Baldrige Excellence Framework, has elected Urvi Patel, director of quality improvement at AHCA/NCAL, to its board of directors. </p><p>“This is deserved recognition of her leadership of the AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award program, which is one of the largest and most successful Baldrige-based programs,” says Courtney Bishnoi, vice president of quality and programs at AHCA. “Urvi has already proven adept at building relationships with these programs through sharing information and best practices. She will be a great addition to the board.”</p><p>The AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Program provides a pathway for long term and post-acute care providers to journey toward performance excellence. The program, which debuted in 1996 is based on the core values and criteria of the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program. Read more <a href="https://www.ahcancal.org/Quality/National-Quality-Award-Program/Pages/default.aspx">here.</a></p>	2020-10-15T04:00:00Z	<img alt="" src="/Breaking-News/PublishingImages/740%20x%20740/0220_News2.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" />	Management	Director of Quality Improvement Urvi Patel will be representing AHCA/NCAL’s quality efforts on a national scale.