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03/11/2021

Today's COVID-19 Report: Thursday, March 11

Thursday, March 11, 2021

Here are the latest need-to-know updates for Thursday, March 11 regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and other topics of importance.

A REMINDER TO ALL MEMBERS

Check LeadingAge's FAQs and Resources on COVID-19 Vaccines and Issues Surrounding Vaccinations frequently. 
The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) released a toolkit with talking points, language tips, social media language, and trusted resources to help providers better communicate information regarding the COVID-19 vaccines. 

In Today's Report

Nursing home visitation guidance update: webinars for nursing facilities, assisted living and adult day/seniors centers next week

On Wednesday, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released QSO 20-39-NH revising visitation guidance for nursing homes. LeadingAge has provided a summary here. The guidance allows nursing homes to expand visitation options in a safe and responsible manner, regardless of vaccination status of the resident or visitor. CMS also outlined certain scenarios that would limit visitation using community positivity rates and nursing home resident vaccine percentages.

In the past few weeks, LeadingAge has advocated for changes in visitation. In response, CMS stated they were collaborating with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on reviewing vaccination data and the decline of community positivity rates in order to revise visitation guidelines. While pleased to see the updates to indoor and outdoor visitation, LeadingAge knows nursing homes will need to emphasize the importance of infection control protocols and continued testing. 

On a call this morning with LeadingAge Ohio, Ohio Department of Aging (ODA) Director Ursel J. McElroy stated that providers should be receiving a letter today that lets them know about three upcoming webinars that will take place in the next week. Key topics will include updates on COVID-19 testing, health director order updates and changes, and visitation. Although CMS has updated guidance for nursing home visitation, Ohio’s sixth amended order remains in effect.

The schedule for these webinars will be:

Additional details will be provided as LeadingAge Ohio receives them.

PNM portal rollout date announced

The Ohio Department of Aging (ODA) sent the new rollout date for the Provider Network Module (PNM) portal.

The Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) will implement the new Provider Network Management (PNM) system on July 26. PNM is a single point of entry provider portal giving providers (new and existing) one front door to manage enrollment administration. The PNM module streamlines the enrollment and re-validation processes and simplifies the user experience.

In the coming weeks ODM will share insight into the change and provide timelines, resources, and instructions for PNM through email notifications to providers and stakeholders of the upcoming PNM implementation plan.

The biggest change for an ODA provider is the starting point. Instead of starting at the ODA electronic application system, Provider Certification Wizard (PCW), the providers will now sign in through the PNM portal and select what type of provider they want to be. Based on the provider’s selection, the provider will be redirected to the appropriate Agency’s system to complete the application process.

Over the next several months, to align ODA systems with PNM, there will be a shutdown period for the submission of new applications. The cutoff times for new application submissions are as follows:

Pre-Certification Visit Deadline:

For provider applications not sent for a pre-certification review, the provider must reapply through PNM after July 26, 2021. ODA will hold onto any documentation submitted.

For PAAs who have not completed the precertification process by the deadline, they may continue with the pre-certification. However, the PAA may not approve the provider until the provider reapplies in PNM after July 26, 2021.

LeadingAge Ohio is awaiting guidance on when providers enrolled through the Department of Medicaid, including nursing homes and skilled home health, will experience shutdown periods for new applications.  Please direct providers with questions to ODM’s dedicated provider network module email at PNMCommunications@medicaid.ohio.gov.

Housing bulletin moves to Mondays

In January, LeadingAge Ohio added a dedicated housing bulletin to our member communications to highlight important updates and information that occurs throughout the week for low income senior housing providers. These bulletins will be moving from Friday distribution to Monday distribution. If you have not been receiving the dedicated housing bulletin or would like to be added to this special distribution list, please contact Jennifer Taylor at jtaylor@leadingageohio.org.

Scripps biennial long-term care survey coming soon!

The Scripps Gerontology Center has alerted LeadingAge Ohio that it will be sending out the Biennial Survey of Long-Term Care Facilities within the next week. The early target date for survey release is Wednesday, March 17. The data produced by the long-term care survey is crucial to industry leaders and state policymakers. LeadingAge Ohio urges all nursing home members to participate this year!

eServices provider portal maintenance this weekend

Palmetto GBA will be conducting scheduled maintenance on the eServices provider portal from 1:00PM on Saturday, March 13 until 8:00AM Sunday, March 14. Review Choice Demonstration functionality in eServices will be unavailable during this time.

LeadingAge Virtual Lobby Day: April 21

LeadingAge is excited to announce the first ever Virtual Lobby Day for the national association. This will replace the originally scheduled in-person lobby day this year. Given LeadingAge's success with their virtual congressional meetings last year, members will appreciate the opportunity to meet with their congressional offices and advocate for our key policy priorities and tell their stories. LeadingAge will once again be utilizing the services of Advocacy Associates and they have an innovative way to manage the coordination and virtual schedules for our members.

Please Save These Dates On Your Calendar:

Virtual Advocacy Training Session Wednesday, April 14 3:00-4:00PM
Preparing members for visiting virtually featuring Carol Silver Elliott, Katie Smith Sloan and the LeadingAge Policy Team

Lobby Day Office Hours: Friday, April 16 2:00-3:00PM and Monday, April 19 2:00-3:00PM
LeadingAge Policy Team is available for questions for members and state partner staff.

State Delegation Planning Meetings:  April 15-20
LeadingAge Ohio delegation meetings will be scheduled. Details to follow.  

Virtual Lobby Day:  Wednesday, April 21  8:00AM-5:30PM (Reception 4:30PM)
Keep whole day open for now. As meetings are scheduled, you can add them to your calendar. At 4:30PM, LeadingAge is going to host a fun virtual networking reception to celebrate our day and allow our advocates to share their stories from the day.

Additional details regarding these events can be found here.

L.E.A.P. Symposium: March 23

In collaboration with 12 other industry leaders, Leadingage Ohio associate firm HealthPRO Heritage is proud to host a series of six webinars for health care providers. Focus will be on rebuilding in 2021 by leveraging inspiration, innovation, and an intrepid “go-forward” strategy.

Sessions are complimentary and offer up to 6 hours NAB CE credits. Complete details are available by clicking here.

LeadingAge Need to Know: COVID-19 – March 11, 2021

LeadingAge shares the latest coronavirus news and resources with members twice each weekday. This morning's update featured LeadingAge urging government to broaden vaccine focus and a reminder about the upcoming Life Safety and Emergency Preparedness webinar on April 8.

Check out the full report here.

 

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Questions

Please send all questions to COVID19@leadingageohio.org. Additionally, members are encouraged to visit the LeadingAge Ohio COVID-19 Working Group facebook gro up to pose questions to peers and share best practices. LeadingAge is continuing its daily calls for all members.  To participate in these daily online updates, members should register here.  

LeadingAge Ohio is working to ensure that the information in our daily alerts, on our website, and all coronavirus-related communications is as accurate as possible. However, LeadingAge Ohio makes no guarantees about the accuracy of the information. 

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