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Providers Urge Congress to Extend Relief From Medicare Sequester Cuts Into 2021	<p>The American Health Care Association, American Hospital Association, American Medical Association, and National Association for Homecare and Hospice wrote congressional leaders urging them to extend the congressionally enacted moratorium on the application of the Medicare sequester cuts into 2021 and through the duration of the public health emergency (PHE) caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.<br></p><p>In total, these organizations provide health care to more than 62 million Medicare patients, and the persistently high COVID-19 rates across the country are stressing the health care system, they said.<br></p><p>The letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) urges extension of the relief from the 2 percent sequester cut enacted in the CARES Act that afforded critical relief during the pandemic to all providers who participate in the Medicare program through the end of 2020.<br></p><p>“Physicians, nurses, hospitals, health systems, long term care hospitals, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, skilled nursing facilities, home health agencies, and hospices have been hit hard by the pandemic, incurring significant expenses to treat the sick, but experiencing historic financial losses due to the decrease in inpatient and outpatient services,” the letter said.<br></p><p>Relief from the 2 percent sequester cut by way of the CARES Act afforded critical relief during the PHE to all providers who participate in the Medicare program through the end of 2020, it continued.<br></p><p>“Clearly Congress recognized the importance of this relief for the duration of the PHE. Given that the PHE is certain to continue into 2021, it is a safe assumption that America’s health care providers will continue to face the overwhelming financial challenges and pressures associated with higher overhead costs due to personal protective equipment and other safeguards, lost revenue due to delayed elective procedures and/or forgone routine visits, and hazard pay to staff.”<br></p><p>The organizations said they are grateful that Congress has provided a much-needed reprieve from the Medicare sequestration since May. Without future sequestration relief, however, America’s health care safety net could be at risk of collapse, they said.</p>	2020-12-01T05:00:00Z	<img alt="" src="/Breaking-News/PublishingImages/740%20x%20740/1220_news2.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" />	Capitol Hill;Congress	Patrick Connole	The letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell urges extension of the relief from the 2 percent sequester cut enacted in the CARES Act.
Too Much Sleep Not Good for Those 80 and Older: Study	<p>Too much sleep for people between 80 and 105 years old is tied to higher mortality rates, according to a research paper published in <em>JAMDA</em>.<br></p><p>While both too much and not enough sleep can have negative ramifications for people of all ages, like obesity, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes mellitus, sleeping too much seems to have a negative impact for the oldest age cohorts, authors said.<br></p><p>While cognitive impairment contributes to higher mortality in this population, the research in “The Role of Cognitive Impairment, Physical Disability, and Chronic Conditions on the Association of Sleep Duration with All-Cause Mortality Among the Very Old” said this is not the only factor.<br></p><p>“A possible explanation is that poor quality of sleep, such as sleep fragmentation, waking after sleep onset, sleep latency, and feelings of fatigue and lethargy after a long sleep may induce sleep extension and decrease resistance to disease,” researchers said. This, in turn, may lead to increased mortality.<br></p><p>The authors collected sleep data on nearly 20,000 Chinese adults between the ages of 80 and 105 for up to 10 years. They uncovered a relationship between longer periods of sleep (more than nine hours per night) and mortality, with a significant relationship between longer sleep and cognitive impairment on mortality.<br></p><p>However, the risk of death did not differ much for people with various physical disabilities and chronic conditions.<br></p><p>“These findings suggest that health practitioners and families should be aware of the potential adverse prognosis associated with long sleep,” the authors said. <br></p><p>While getting a full night’s sleep is important for older adults and can contribute to health and quality of life, poor sleep—whether too much or too little—should be considered a red flag worth reporting to the physician or other practitioner. This is particularly true for older adults with cognitive impairment.<br></p><p>This study was conducted by researchers at the School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, P.R. China; Aging Research Center, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinksa Institute and Stockholm University; and Department of Biostatisticians, School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, Conn.</p>	2020-12-01T05:00:00Z	<img alt="" src="/Breaking-News/PublishingImages/740%20x%20740/senior_nurse_1.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" />	Caregiving		While both too much and not enough sleep can have negative ramifications for people of all ages, like obesity, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes mellitus, sleeping too much seems to have a negative impact for the oldest age cohorts, authors said.
Long Term Care Advocates Urge Policymakers to Prioritize Residents, Staff for COVID Vaccine	<p>In a joint statement released on Nov. 30, the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL), LeadingAge, Argentum, and the American Seniors Housing Association (ASHA) urged policymakers at all levels to make residents and staff of long term care facilities a top priority for receiving distribution a COVID-19 vaccine.</p><p>“Since the start of the pandemic, heroic caregivers in long term care and senior living communities have done everything in their power to protect our most vulnerable citizens. In the early months, essential resources such as personal protective equipment (PPE), testing, and staffing support were directed toward hospitals and other health care sectors, leaving nursing homes, assisted living, and senior living communities and other long term care providers pleading for help,” the statement said.</p><p>“Government reports correctly identified all long term care residents and staff for priority distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. It is critical that policymakers at all levels maintain that position as these products come online and are delivered across the country.”</p><p>The groups further said that the lack of prioritization for long term care and seniors housing at the outset of the pandemic led to devastating losses, and “we cannot let that happen again.”</p><p>Vulnerable older adults and the frontline workers who protect them deserve the full support of the public health sector, the groups said. “Ensuring residents and staff in all long term care and senior living settings are among the first to receive a COVID-19 vaccine will help limit the spread of this deadly virus and prevent further tragedies. We also want to get residents out enjoying social activities and seeing their loved ones again. A vaccine is one critical step toward that goal.”</p><p>In addition, the groups said this is especially important given the new surge of COVID-19 cases nationwide. Independent research from the nation’s most prestigious universities shows that a high rate of spread within a community will likely lead to outbreaks in long term care. <br>“We are seeing this unfold now, as cases among the general public and nursing homes hit record numbers,” the statement said.</p><p>“Distributing a vaccine to long term care and senior living residents and staff first will give us another line of defense against this deadly virus if cases rise within their surrounding communities.”<br></p>	2020-11-30T05:00:00Z	<img alt="" src="/Breaking-News/PublishingImages/740%20x%20740/capitol_blue_skies_flag.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" />	COVID-19	Patrick Connole	In the early months, essential resources were directed toward hospitals and other health care sectors, leaving long term care providers pleading for help, advocacy groups say.
Expert Tips on Preventing COVID Infections During Thanksgiving	<p>With the number of COVID-19 cases across the country rising at an alarming rate, resulting in a correlating spike in cases in long term care settings, the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) is sharing important advice on how to best stop infections over the Thanksgiving holiday. </p><p>Recent <a href="https://www.ahcancal.org/News-and-Communications/Fact-Sheets/FactSheets/Report-Nursing-Homes-Cases-Nov23-2020.pdf">data</a> from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) show that nursing homes continue to see a record number of weekly new cases, surpassing previous peaks since CMS started tracking nursing home cases. The Midwest region in particular has seen a staggering 275 percent increase since September, ACHA/NCAL said.</p><p>The association said while long term care workers continue to do everything they can to keep their residents safe, they cannot fight the battle alone. With Thanksgiving so close, the public must exercise caution and discipline as they partake in their celebrations.</p><p>David Gifford, MD, chief medical officer for AHCA/NCAL, said, “We understand everyone wants to see their family and friends during the holidays, but we really need to consider our parents and grandparents who are living in our nation’s long term care facilities.”</p><p>He said even though “you may feel fine, more than half of people who have COVID-19 are asymptomatic, and the people you encounter at the Thanksgiving table or out at the grocery store may work in a nursing home or assisted living community. Wearing a mask and practicing physical distancing not only protects you, but it is sign of respect for our elders and our health care heroes who care for them.”</p><p>The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/holidays.html">guidance</a> around hosting or attending holiday gatherings, including:</p><p>• Checking the COVID-19 infection rates in areas where attendees live on state, local, territorial, or tribal health department websites.</p><p>• Limiting the number of attendees as much as possible to allow people from different households to remain at least six feet apart at all times.</p><p>• Hosting outdoor rather than indoor gatherings as much as possible.</p><p> • Avoiding holding gatherings in crowded, poorly ventilated spaces with persons who are not in your household.</p><p> • Requiring guests to wear masks.</p><p> • Encouraging attendees to wash their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.</p><p> • Provide guests information about any COVID-19 safety guidelines and steps that will be in place at the gathering to prevent the spread of the virus.</p><p> • Cleaning and disinfecting commonly touched surfaces and any shared items between use when feasible.<br></p>	2020-11-25T05:00:00Z	<img alt="" src="/Breaking-News/PublishingImages/740%20x%20740/mask_2.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" />	COVID-19	Patrick Connole	While communities and nursing homes continue to see record numbers of new cases, the public must exercise caution and discipline as they partake in their celebrations.

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Providers Urge Congress to Extend Relief From Medicare Sequester Cuts Into 2021	<p>The American Health Care Association, American Hospital Association, American Medical Association, and National Association for Homecare and Hospice wrote congressional leaders urging them to extend the congressionally enacted moratorium on the application of the Medicare sequester cuts into 2021 and through the duration of the public health emergency (PHE) caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.<br></p><p>In total, these organizations provide health care to more than 62 million Medicare patients, and the persistently high COVID-19 rates across the country are stressing the health care system, they said.<br></p><p>The letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) urges extension of the relief from the 2 percent sequester cut enacted in the CARES Act that afforded critical relief during the pandemic to all providers who participate in the Medicare program through the end of 2020.<br></p><p>“Physicians, nurses, hospitals, health systems, long term care hospitals, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, skilled nursing facilities, home health agencies, and hospices have been hit hard by the pandemic, incurring significant expenses to treat the sick, but experiencing historic financial losses due to the decrease in inpatient and outpatient services,” the letter said.<br></p><p>Relief from the 2 percent sequester cut by way of the CARES Act afforded critical relief during the PHE to all providers who participate in the Medicare program through the end of 2020, it continued.<br></p><p>“Clearly Congress recognized the importance of this relief for the duration of the PHE. Given that the PHE is certain to continue into 2021, it is a safe assumption that America’s health care providers will continue to face the overwhelming financial challenges and pressures associated with higher overhead costs due to personal protective equipment and other safeguards, lost revenue due to delayed elective procedures and/or forgone routine visits, and hazard pay to staff.”<br></p><p>The organizations said they are grateful that Congress has provided a much-needed reprieve from the Medicare sequestration since May. Without future sequestration relief, however, America’s health care safety net could be at risk of collapse, they said.</p>	2020-12-01T05:00:00Z	<img alt="" src="/Breaking-News/PublishingImages/740%20x%20740/1220_news2.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" />	Capitol Hill;Congress	The letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell urges extension of the relief from the 2 percent sequester cut enacted in the CARES Act.
Too Much Sleep Not Good for Those 80 and Older: Study	<p>Too much sleep for people between 80 and 105 years old is tied to higher mortality rates, according to a research paper published in <em>JAMDA</em>.<br></p><p>While both too much and not enough sleep can have negative ramifications for people of all ages, like obesity, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes mellitus, sleeping too much seems to have a negative impact for the oldest age cohorts, authors said.<br></p><p>While cognitive impairment contributes to higher mortality in this population, the research in “The Role of Cognitive Impairment, Physical Disability, and Chronic Conditions on the Association of Sleep Duration with All-Cause Mortality Among the Very Old” said this is not the only factor.<br></p><p>“A possible explanation is that poor quality of sleep, such as sleep fragmentation, waking after sleep onset, sleep latency, and feelings of fatigue and lethargy after a long sleep may induce sleep extension and decrease resistance to disease,” researchers said. This, in turn, may lead to increased mortality.<br></p><p>The authors collected sleep data on nearly 20,000 Chinese adults between the ages of 80 and 105 for up to 10 years. They uncovered a relationship between longer periods of sleep (more than nine hours per night) and mortality, with a significant relationship between longer sleep and cognitive impairment on mortality.<br></p><p>However, the risk of death did not differ much for people with various physical disabilities and chronic conditions.<br></p><p>“These findings suggest that health practitioners and families should be aware of the potential adverse prognosis associated with long sleep,” the authors said. <br></p><p>While getting a full night’s sleep is important for older adults and can contribute to health and quality of life, poor sleep—whether too much or too little—should be considered a red flag worth reporting to the physician or other practitioner. This is particularly true for older adults with cognitive impairment.<br></p><p>This study was conducted by researchers at the School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, P.R. China; Aging Research Center, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinksa Institute and Stockholm University; and Department of Biostatisticians, School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, Conn.</p>	2020-12-01T05:00:00Z	<img alt="" src="/Breaking-News/PublishingImages/740%20x%20740/senior_nurse_1.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" />	Caregiving	While both too much and not enough sleep can have negative ramifications for people of all ages, like obesity, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes mellitus, sleeping too much seems to have a negative impact for the oldest age cohorts, authors said.
Long Term Care Advocates Urge Policymakers to Prioritize Residents, Staff for COVID Vaccine	<p>In a joint statement released on Nov. 30, the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL), LeadingAge, Argentum, and the American Seniors Housing Association (ASHA) urged policymakers at all levels to make residents and staff of long term care facilities a top priority for receiving distribution a COVID-19 vaccine.</p><p>“Since the start of the pandemic, heroic caregivers in long term care and senior living communities have done everything in their power to protect our most vulnerable citizens. In the early months, essential resources such as personal protective equipment (PPE), testing, and staffing support were directed toward hospitals and other health care sectors, leaving nursing homes, assisted living, and senior living communities and other long term care providers pleading for help,” the statement said.</p><p>“Government reports correctly identified all long term care residents and staff for priority distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. It is critical that policymakers at all levels maintain that position as these products come online and are delivered across the country.”</p><p>The groups further said that the lack of prioritization for long term care and seniors housing at the outset of the pandemic led to devastating losses, and “we cannot let that happen again.”</p><p>Vulnerable older adults and the frontline workers who protect them deserve the full support of the public health sector, the groups said. “Ensuring residents and staff in all long term care and senior living settings are among the first to receive a COVID-19 vaccine will help limit the spread of this deadly virus and prevent further tragedies. We also want to get residents out enjoying social activities and seeing their loved ones again. A vaccine is one critical step toward that goal.”</p><p>In addition, the groups said this is especially important given the new surge of COVID-19 cases nationwide. Independent research from the nation’s most prestigious universities shows that a high rate of spread within a community will likely lead to outbreaks in long term care. <br>“We are seeing this unfold now, as cases among the general public and nursing homes hit record numbers,” the statement said.</p><p>“Distributing a vaccine to long term care and senior living residents and staff first will give us another line of defense against this deadly virus if cases rise within their surrounding communities.”<br></p>	2020-11-30T05:00:00Z	<img alt="" src="/Breaking-News/PublishingImages/740%20x%20740/capitol_blue_skies_flag.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" />	COVID-19	In the early months, essential resources were directed toward hospitals and other health care sectors, leaving long term care providers pleading for help, advocacy groups say.
Expert Tips on Preventing COVID Infections During Thanksgiving	<p>With the number of COVID-19 cases across the country rising at an alarming rate, resulting in a correlating spike in cases in long term care settings, the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) is sharing important advice on how to best stop infections over the Thanksgiving holiday. </p><p>Recent <a href="https://www.ahcancal.org/News-and-Communications/Fact-Sheets/FactSheets/Report-Nursing-Homes-Cases-Nov23-2020.pdf">data</a> from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) show that nursing homes continue to see a record number of weekly new cases, surpassing previous peaks since CMS started tracking nursing home cases. The Midwest region in particular has seen a staggering 275 percent increase since September, ACHA/NCAL said.</p><p>The association said while long term care workers continue to do everything they can to keep their residents safe, they cannot fight the battle alone. With Thanksgiving so close, the public must exercise caution and discipline as they partake in their celebrations.</p><p>David Gifford, MD, chief medical officer for AHCA/NCAL, said, “We understand everyone wants to see their family and friends during the holidays, but we really need to consider our parents and grandparents who are living in our nation’s long term care facilities.”</p><p>He said even though “you may feel fine, more than half of people who have COVID-19 are asymptomatic, and the people you encounter at the Thanksgiving table or out at the grocery store may work in a nursing home or assisted living community. Wearing a mask and practicing physical distancing not only protects you, but it is sign of respect for our elders and our health care heroes who care for them.”</p><p>The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/holidays.html">guidance</a> around hosting or attending holiday gatherings, including:</p><p>• Checking the COVID-19 infection rates in areas where attendees live on state, local, territorial, or tribal health department websites.</p><p>• Limiting the number of attendees as much as possible to allow people from different households to remain at least six feet apart at all times.</p><p>• Hosting outdoor rather than indoor gatherings as much as possible.</p><p> • Avoiding holding gatherings in crowded, poorly ventilated spaces with persons who are not in your household.</p><p> • Requiring guests to wear masks.</p><p> • Encouraging attendees to wash their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.</p><p> • Provide guests information about any COVID-19 safety guidelines and steps that will be in place at the gathering to prevent the spread of the virus.</p><p> • Cleaning and disinfecting commonly touched surfaces and any shared items between use when feasible.<br></p>	2020-11-25T05:00:00Z	<img alt="" src="/Breaking-News/PublishingImages/740%20x%20740/mask_2.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" />	COVID-19	While communities and nursing homes continue to see record numbers of new cases, the public must exercise caution and discipline as they partake in their celebrations.
AHCA, NCAL Chart Record Number of COVID Cases in Nursing Homes	<p></p><p>The American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) released a <a href="https://www.ahcancal.org/News-and-Communications/Fact-Sheets/FactSheets/Report-Nursing-Homes-Cases-Nov23-2020.pdf">report</a> showing nursing homes continue to see a record number of weekly new cases this month due to the community spread among the general population, surpassing previous peaks since the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) started tracking cases in nursing homes.</p><p>Recent data released by Johns Hopkins University and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) show that with the recent spike in new COVID cases in the general U.S. population, weekly nursing home cases are also on the rise. </p><p>According to Johns Hopkins University, weekly new COVID cases in the general U.S. population rose by 229 percent to 796,761 new cases the week of Nov. 8. A correlating uptick in new cases in nursing homes occurred when cases in the surrounding community started rising back in mid-September.</p><p>As <a href="https://www.ahcancal.org/News-and-Communications/Fact-Sheets/FactSheets/Analysis-COVID-Outbreaks-in-Nursing-Homes.pdf">experts</a> have repeatedly said, a high number of COVID-19 cases in a surrounding community is a top factor in outbreaks in nursing homes. Tamara Konetzka, a long term care expert at the University of Chicago, recently <a href="https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-only-on-ap-chicago-nursing-homes-596ef4bfe18313ae72368e2c86e85f27">said,</a> “Trying to protect nursing home residents without controlling community spread is a losing battle.” </p><p>And, Mark Parkinson, president and chief executive officer of AHCA/NCAL said, “Our worst fears have come true as COVID runs rampant among the general population, and long term care facilities are powerless to fully prevent it from entering due to its asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic spread.”</p><p>He added that “Our health care heroes are doing everything they can to prevent it from spreading further, but this level of COVID nationwide puts serious strain on our workforce, supplies, and testing capacity. If everybody would wear a mask and social distance to reduce the level of COVID in the community, we know we would dramatically reduce these rates in long term care facilities.”</p><p>During the second week of November, nearly half (49 percent) of new COVID cases in nursing homes were from Midwest states, with major spikes in community spread in the upper parts of the region. As a result, the Midwest region has seen a 275 percent increase in weekly COVID cases in nursing homes since mid-September.</p><p>After seven weeks of declining cases in nursing homes through mid-September, nursing home cases began to increase as nearly all 50 states have started to see rising levels of COVID cases. New weekly cases in nursing homes grew by more than 110 percent nationwide between mid-September and the week of Nov. 8.</p><p>The report also showed COVID-related deaths in nursing homes are increasing, with a 69 percent jump since late September. </p><p>Residents of long term care facilities account for only 8 percent of the nation’s cases, yet 40 percent of its deaths. While mortality rates have decreased compared with those in the spring due to a better understanding of the virus, better treatments, and government resources to help reduce spread, industry leaders remain deeply concerned that the rising number of new COVID cases in facilities will ultimately lead to an increasing number of deaths.</p><p>“We are especially concerned that this situation will only get worse with Thanksgiving just around the corner,” Parkinson said. “The public must realize that their actions not only endanger our nation’s most vulnerable, but also trigger government lockdowns of facilities, keeping these residents from their loved ones. This is detrimental to their health, well-being, and happiness. We urge everyone to do their part to slow the spread immediately and <a href="/Breaking-News/Pages/CMS-Clarifies-Holiday-Visitation-Via-New-Alert.aspx">exercise caution when celebrating Thanksgiving.”</a></p><p>With rising new COVID cases across the country, Parkinson said Congress must prioritize frontline health care workers and long term care residents during the lame duck session. Last week AHCA/NCAL released a <a href="https://www.ahcancal.org/News-and-Communications/Fact-Sheets/FactSheets/Stimulus-4-Asks.pdf">list of actions</a> that Congress should urgently take to help nursing homes and assisted living communities respond to the uptick in new cases.</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 the response to the COVID pandemic heading into the cold and flu season. The financial aid is crucial in helping long term care facilities acquire personal protective equipment, conduct regular testing, and hire additional staff or reward current caregivers for their heroic efforts, he said.</p><p>“Congress must fulfill its duty,” he said. “Without adequate funding and resources, the U.S. is repeating 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 long term care facilities, by passing another COVID relief package during the lame duck session in Congress.”</p><p>For more information, please visit <a href="https://www.ahcancal.org/Survey-Regulatory-Legal/Emergency-Preparedness/pages/coronavirus.aspx">www.ahcancal.org/coronavirus.</a><br></p>	2020-11-24T05:00:00Z	<img alt="" src="/Breaking-News/PublishingImages/740%20x%20740/0120_News1.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" />	COVID-19	Long term care expert says community spread must be controlled in order to keep nursing home residents safe.
CMS Clarifies Holiday Visitation Via New Alert	<p>The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released an <a href="https://www.cms.gov/files/document/covid-facility-holiday-recommendations.pdf">alert </a>regarding holiday visitation in skilled nursing facilities, according to the latest COVID-19 update from the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL). </p><p>During the holidays, facilities, residents, and visitors should continue to follow the <a href="https://www.cms.gov/files/document/qso-20-39-nh.pdf">guidelines for visitation </a>and adhere to the core principles of infection prevention, such as remaining six feet or more apart, wearing a face covering at all times, and limiting the number of visitors in the nursing home at any one time, CMS said.</p><p>Families, residents, and providers need to work together to take precautions during the holidays to help reduce the risk of spread while supporting family and resident engagement as much as possible using these core infection prevention practices. </p><p>CMS recommends against residents leaving the nursing home during the public health emergency because it increases the resident’s risk for exposure to COVID-19.</p><p>The risk may be further increased by factors such as a resident’s health status, the spread of COVID-19 in the community (for example, cases or positivity rate), or attendance at large gatherings, the agency said. <a href="https://www.ahcancal.org/News-and-Communications/Blog/Pages/CMS-Releases-Alert-Regarding-Holidays.aspx">Read more.</a></p><p>In other developments, AHCA/NCAL said it has released an updated 3-Day Stay and Benefit-Period Waivers for Medicare Part A SNF PPS Fact Sheet <a href="https://www.ahcancal.org/Survey-Regulatory-Legal/Emergency-Preparedness/Documents/COVID19/3-Day%20Waiver%20FAQ.pdf">here,</a> as well as the accompanying webinar, <a href="https://educate.ahcancal.org/products/covid-19-overview-of-snf-3-day-stay-and-benefit-period-waivers">here. </a></p><p>Also, the association said there is a COVID-related webinar coming up on the calendar. On Nov. 23, at 2 p.m. (ET), AHCA/NCAL is hosting a discussion on the COVID-19 Monoclonal Antibody. <a href="https://www.ahcancal.org/News-and-Communications/Blog/Pages/AHCANCAL-Updates-3-Day-Qualifying-Hospital-Stay-and-Benefit-Period-Waiver-Guidance-Resources.aspx">Register here.</a></p><p></p>	2020-11-20T05:00:00Z	<img alt="" src="/Breaking-News/PublishingImages/740%20x%20740/mask_5.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" />	COVID-19	Families, residents, and providers need take precautions during the holidays to reduce the risk of spread.
NCAL Focus Remains on Saving Lives as Pandemic Continues to Test Communities	<p>Scott Tittle, executive director, National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL), spoke to Provider recently about the ongoing pandemic and its impact on life inside assisted living communities among residents and staff, as well as the ongoing effort to get more federal assistance to stem what is now another rising tide of COVID-19 cases across the nation.</p><p>After a successful October for NCAL in which the association held its annual NCAL Day during the American Health Care Association/NCAL convention, Tittle said the focus there showed how the coronavirus remains the top priority in assisted living.</p><p>Tittle noted that the 14th annual NCAL Day featured sessions, done on a virtual basis, to help providers effectively manage and prepare for COVID and to make, as he says, “life as normal as possible” for residents and their families.</p><p>“As states open up, there will be visitation even in colder temperatures. And, I think this makes it even more important to address topics that were addressed at the convention, which included how to improve communications and customer service during COVID with families and other caregivers,” Tittle says.</p><p>NCAL also offered education sessions on affordable assisted living, which remains a critical concern across the country for providers searching for ways to meet the requirements of operating a community but also in a way that is economically viable for residents.</p><p>As for the COVID battle, he says assisted living operators are learning to adjust as “best as they can and in ways they did not anticipate.” Tittle says there are of course differences between what constitutes a skilled nursing facility and an assisted living community, but that has not mattered to the coronavirus.</p><p>“Assisted living, like skilled nursing, has really been fighting since day one like everyone else,” he says. “Resident classifications are similar to those in skilled nursing, with ages and acuity a little lower, but our residents do have health care needs, of course.”</p><p>Despite having the same needs to fight the virus, Tittle says, “Quite honestly, assisted living has largely been left out of the discussion at the national level for support and funding.” The federal government did allocate some funds in September, and in doing so acknowledged the intense work being done in assisted living buildings to recalibrate living arrangements to battle against infections, but more is required.</p><p>“Providers have taken the needed steps like moving to noncommunal dining, implementing visitor restrictions, and addressing all sorts of things like how residents enter and leave buildings and other retrofits to ensure the safety for all, including staff,” he says.</p><p>The added cost of having to use voluminous amounts of personal protective equipment has also been a strain on the resources and bottom line. In addition, Tittle says the workforce challenges, like those in nursing homes, is acute given the stress and strain of maintaining daily operations while battling to keep infections out of buildings.</p><p>“This has been a long road for assisted living, and I think operators have been resilient and creative in finding new ways to resolve problems for residents,” he says.</p><p>In looking ahead, Tittle says NCAL will continue to advocate for more funding for assisted living when it comes to the dollars made available for health care providers and the pandemic. Even though states regulate assisted living, the work to get federal funding for operators to protect residents and staff does not conflict with the NCAL mission to maintain state control of the industry.</p><p>“I have heard some questions like that recently, and really it is all about our national board early on making a determination that the most important priority was to ensure operators had what they needed to save lives,” he says.</p><p>“We have been advocating for federal stimulus as a result. As for regulation, we believe states are the best incubators for needed regulation. This virus does not discriminate between people and how they are regulated. So, we separate the two matters and continue to believe a one-size-fits-all regulation at the federal level is not good for residents or operators of assisted living.”</p>	2020-11-17T05:00:00Z	<img alt="" src="/Breaking-News/PublishingImages/740%20x%20740/0320_News4.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" />	COVID-19	NCAL executive director discusses the ongoing pandemic and its impact on life inside assisted living communities among residents and staff.